Nigeria's Lawmakers clash over Buhari’s health status

Members of the House of Representatives clashed on Tuesday, over President Muhammadu Buhari’s health status.
The lawmakers did not seem to agree over the use of the word “sickness”, in referring to Buhari’s reason for being in the UK since January 19.

Some said the President was sick and was away to treat himself, while others claimed that he was on “medical vacation”.
The House Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, started the argument when he tried to stop the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, from describing Buhari as a sick man.
Both Gbajabiamila, who is from Lagos State, and Ado-Doguwa, who is from Kano State, are members of the APC.
Ado-Doguwa said the country was already under tension because of Buhari’s absence and could not afford any “partisan” activities.

He added that a group was already campaigning for the 2019 presidential election in a volatile place like Kano.
“Our beloved President is sick abroad. These partisan activities are completely unnecessary and baseless. The police must do their work of protecting lives and property anywhere in the country.
“The sponsor of the motion failed to lay the facts of the issues as they are,” he added.
Gbajabiamila shouted “point of order” and requested the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun, to ask Ado-Doguwa to desist from calling Buhari a sick President.

Gbajabiamila stated: “There is no factual basis for what he is saying, that Buhari is sick abroad.
“The President is not sick. At best, he can say that the President is on medical vacation.
“There is a difference between being sick and going on a medical vacation.”
The noise got louder as other members joined, insisting there was no difference between being sick and going on medical vacation.
Others shouted in support of Gbajabiamila, saying he was right.
However, Lasun in his bid to support Gbajabiamila, also admitted that Buhari was sick.
“Let me sustain the leader’s point of order.
“Ado-Doguwa, you should not lay emphasis on the sickness of our President because of the security implications,” he said.
DAILY POST