Buhari’s Health: Saraki Denies Link In Alleged Plot To Remove Osinbajo As Nigerian Governors Meet
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in a statement, called on those linking him as replacement for Yemi Osinbajo after the Vice-President must have been forced to resign, to leave him out of the “baseless rumour.”
The statement from the Senate President read:
Leave Me Out of ?the ?Baseless Rumour?s?, Says Saraki
My attention has been drawn to a speculation on some online media about supposed meeting of some Governors who held Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to ransom and sought for Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to take over the Presidency.
My first initial reaction was to ignore this empty rumour but after being inundated with calls from across the country and abroad, it became necessary for me to make clarifications from our own end.
It is a good thing that the Presidency had dismissed the speculation and showed that there is no substance to it. However, i feel it should be known that those behind this baseless, empty and unintelligent mischief are those who do not love this country.
Such suggestions as contained in the speculation can only bring ill-will, disunity and crisis to the country and i therefore advise the sponsors to desist immediately. More importantly, these trouble makers should refrain from linking Senator Saraki’s name to their evil plot.
Signed
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity to Senate President)
The insinuation has been rife following rumours making the round of the death of President Muhammadu Buhari who took leave to see his doctors for medical attention in London, United Kingdom last week.
In his contribution, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, on Wednesday said there was no truth in the rumours that Osinbajo was being foisted by some state governors to resign.
In a statement issued, the presidential aide said, “I have read many ridiculous stories saying the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is being held hostage by some governors who are trying to compel him to resign.
“I have equally received several calls regarding this. The story is simply not true. It is a fabrication. Don’t be a purveyor of fake news.
“The Vice-President is behind his desk carrying out his task. The Federal Executive Council, presided over by him, has just ended and he has been busy receiving visitors and holding meetings.”
In an attempt to discuss and douse the growing tension, members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) are billed to meet today (Thursday) in Abuja.
The meeting, which will among others, discuss the 10-day annual leave of President Buhari, is expected to allay the speculations making the round.
Sources close to the APC told the Nigerian Tribune that the governors had started arriving in Abuja, in readiness for the meeting scheduled for today.
One of the sources also said the meeting would discuss the possibility of sending a delegation to visit the president in London, United Kingdom (UK).
“A number of our colleagues have been bombarded with calls by concerned citizens about what they are reading on the social media about the president. It is incumbent on the NGF to take concrete steps to stabilise the situation. Remember that the forum did the same during the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua,” a source said.
“The situation needs clarifications. We can’t afford our citizens to be in the dark that is why we are meeting on Thursday,” the source said.