"BUHARI'S HEALTH NOT AN ISSUE FOR 2019; He Is Stronger Now Than Ever....Femi Adeshina Says

President Buhari

Spokesman to Nigeria's President, Femi Adesina has refuted reports concerning the health of his Principal which many say, may become a hindrance to seeking re-election in 2019.



According to Adeshina, President Muhammadu Buhari is presently in a better state of health than in 2015 to seek re-election in the 2019 general elections.

The presidential spokesman gave this disclosure on Sunday in Abuja while speaking with State House correspondents.

Buhari's health had deteriorated immediately after the 2015 elections which had seen him spend much time out of his office for long spells which culminated in varying comments.

According to Femi Adeshina, "although the President was yet to decide on whether or not to re-contest, his health would never be an issue as he had been improving tremendously since his return from medical vacation".

It would be recalled that President Buhari left Nigeria last May 7, for the second round of his medical treatment in London and returned to Abuja on August 19, 2017, after a successful medical vacation.

Fielding questions as to the present state of Mr. President's health status, Adeshina said; "Yes, health is wealth. The President is not a frivolous person. If he thinks that his health cannot carry anything, he will not do it".

"So, of course, his health will matter a lot. It will be very important, but we need to give glory to God for the way he is now", he said.

"Every day you see the President, you see a glow about him, you see freshness about him. I think he’s even in a better state than when he came in 2015. It’s all to the glory of God".

"So, once he assesses that his health can carry it, there’s nothing wrong if he steps into the fray. But he has the final decision", the Spokesman stated.

On the conduct of a free and fair elections in 2019, the Presidential aide maintained that the Buhari-led administration would continue to ensure the conduct of acceptable elections in the country as the President had vowed to bequeath free and fair elections in Nigeria.

Adeshina continued by citing recently conducted elections across the country where the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) participated but failed to win.

"It was not like that in the past when a certain party was in power. They won all the elections that held in states".

"But you saw Anambra (State). Just this weekend, you saw a senatorial election there. Some months ago in November, you saw the governorship election. If APC had wanted to overrun Anambra using federal might, it would have done that and it would win the election", he said.

"Election was held in Bayelsa (State) under this administration, APC didn’t do it. Ondo (State), APC won fair and square. Kogi (State), it won fair and square. Where APC wins, it wins. Where it loses, it loses".

"That is the attitude of the President. Your party doesn’t have to win by hook or crook", he stressed.

Reacting to reports carried in social media reports that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi had been appointed as Director-General for President Buhari’s Campaign Organisation, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity described such reports as mere rumour.

"The President had not decided to run for re-election as the whistle had not been blown for such activities by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)".

"Well, me, I believe that things like Director-General will come when you have become a candidate. If the President steps into the fray now, he is an aspirant just like any other aspirant", Adeshina emphasized.

"Having a Director-General comes when you become a candidate of the party".

Tasked on whether President Buhari will embrace the Nelson Mandela option of four-year single term, the presidential aide said it was the constitutional right of the President to run or not to run.

"Of course, this is a democracy. People will always have a right to their opinion. You know, one thing about democracy is that, there is multiplicity of opinion".

"So, those who believe in the Mandela option, it is their right. And it is also the right of the President to run or not to run. So, you don’t abridge the right of anybody under a democracy".

"You cannot start a race until the whistle is blown. So, when he blows the whistle and say yes, this is my ambition, then, the race starts”.