Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, on Sunday October 16, 2016 debunked the
assertion that President Muhammadu Buhari’s three-day visit to Germany was more
of a medical trip than official engagements.
assertion that President Muhammadu Buhari’s three-day visit to Germany was more
of a medical trip than official engagements.
Okorocha, who was part of the president’s entourage to
Berlin, Germany, was reacting to media interview granted by a Kano-based social
commentator, Dr Junaid Muhamed.
Berlin, Germany, was reacting to media interview granted by a Kano-based social
commentator, Dr Junaid Muhamed.
Muhammed had alleged that Buhari visited Germany on Friday, October 14, 2016 to seek medical attention over an undisclosed illness.
Okorocha, who spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja,
however, debunked the allegation, saying that the official engagements of
Buhari in Germany, had no connection, whatsoever, with medication.
however, debunked the allegation, saying that the official engagements of
Buhari in Germany, had no connection, whatsoever, with medication.
He said the visit to Germany only ended on a compassionate
note on Saturday, October 15, 2016 with the president’s convoy veering off its way back to the
airport in Berlin, to visit a Nigerian military officer receiving treatment in
a Berlin hospital.
note on Saturday, October 15, 2016 with the president’s convoy veering off its way back to the
airport in Berlin, to visit a Nigerian military officer receiving treatment in
a Berlin hospital.
“President never went for any medical check-up. At least I
was with him till 1.00a.m, after the dinner before I left him and he went to
bed,
was with him till 1.00a.m, after the dinner before I left him and he went to
bed,
“I went to bed and the following day I came out to see him
in the morning, So, the president never went for any medical at all. The only
hospital we went to was to see a general who had an accident.
in the morning, So, the president never went for any medical at all. The only
hospital we went to was to see a general who had an accident.
“These are some of the things that people make uninformed
comments and I do not know why in this part of our world we are always happy
when someone is going down. I think there is need to change our attitude
completely.
comments and I do not know why in this part of our world we are always happy
when someone is going down. I think there is need to change our attitude
completely.
“If this issue had been on issue on how to move Nigeria
forward, you won’t see on social media, you will not see comment on it, nobody
we talk about it,’’ he said.
forward, you won’t see on social media, you will not see comment on it, nobody
we talk about it,’’ he said.
On the content of the President’s wife BBC interview and the
subsequent reply by Buhari, he said Aisha did not grant the interview to bring
down her husband as being insinuated in some quarters.
subsequent reply by Buhari, he said Aisha did not grant the interview to bring
down her husband as being insinuated in some quarters.
He equally maintained that the president’s reaction to the
interview was just on a lighter mood, saying that Buhari was only cracking
jokes.
interview was just on a lighter mood, saying that Buhari was only cracking
jokes.
Okorocha, who narrated how his wife once joined some
commissioners and workers in Imo to condemn certain official decision he took,
said Aisha’s comments were not meant to disrespect the president or the All
Progressives Congress (APC)
commissioners and workers in Imo to condemn certain official decision he took,
said Aisha’s comments were not meant to disrespect the president or the All
Progressives Congress (APC)
He said her comments were targeted at making peace with
perceived aggrieved members of the APC.
perceived aggrieved members of the APC.
“If you have been with the person of the the President and
where he cracks jokes, you will understand with me that it could be his style
of jokes because even when he was responding, he was smiling, I don’t think the
meaning that is given to it is what it is.
where he cracks jokes, you will understand with me that it could be his style
of jokes because even when he was responding, he was smiling, I don’t think the
meaning that is given to it is what it is.
“If not, why would he have his five daughters having Masters
and Ph.Ds and his wife educated and putting women in key positions in the
country, I don’t think it is.
and Ph.Ds and his wife educated and putting women in key positions in the
country, I don’t think it is.
“Aisha Buhari, who granted the interview did not give that
interview to bring down her husband’s government.
interview to bring down her husband’s government.
“She was only trying to make peace among perceived aggrieved
members in the polity.
members in the polity.
“I have situations where my wife joins commissioners and my
workers to condemn what I do, that does not mean she is fighting me, rather a
bridge of peace between me and them.’’
workers to condemn what I do, that does not mean she is fighting me, rather a
bridge of peace between me and them.’’
