- Tambuwal, El-Rufai Jostle for VP Slots….
- Niger Delta Leaders To Meet on Way Forward
By The New Diplomat Intelligence Desk
President Muhammadu Buhari is in critical health condition and he is not likely to return to Nigeria anytime soon, The New Diplomat has gathered authoritatively from a serving top Nigerian Diplomat in London. And this is currently generating fears and apprehension amongst some key political players who are in the know of this development.
According to the senior Diplomat, who works at the Nigerian High Commission in London with a schedule of duties covering such sensitive responsibilities as those of intelligence, the President’s medical condition is “very critical and we can only just continue to pray for him and hope for the best because he has emaciated so much and seems to have lost some vital memory capabilities as he is unaware of many happenings around him.”
This revelation was further authenticated by a top Presidency source who confided in The New Diplomat while shaking his head in sympathy that” the President’s medical situation is critical and doctors confirm that he has lost some recollection memory.’’
Said the source: “The President’s situation is bad. But let’s pray for him and wish for the very best in terms of recovery.” Investigations by The New Diplomat show that apparently aware of the President’s present poor health status, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai and his Sokoto State Counterpart, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal have been discreetly making political overtures to acting President Yemi Osinbajo, and some power blocs in both the South West and the North, in attempt to warm themselves to the hearts of these power blocs in case President Buhari decides to step down on health grounds. Sources revealed that el-Ruafi is “ very desperate and so treacherous that he has even reached out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had initially mooted the idea of an el-Rufai/Adesina ticket in 2019.” Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who is the current president of the Africa Development Bank (ADB) was Minister of Agriculture under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Tambuwal on his part is said to be using fronts to put in positive words for him at very critical and vital power blocs for his ambition to be Vice President.
Amidst all this raging drama , the Niger Delta region is also not likely to allow sleeping dogs lie as far as the current political permutations are concerned. It was gathered at the weekend that a meeting of the Pan-Niger Delta body, PANDEF has been scheduled to hold next week in Abuja to discuss the way forward for the troubled Niger Delta region.
It would be recalled that President Buhari had jetted out to London on May 7 for another round of medical checks. The President had previously spent more than a month in London in mid-January this year undergoing medical examinations and treatment. The Presidency had issued a statement assuring Nigerians that there was really no cause for worry, stressing that “the President wishes to assure all Nigerians that there is no cause for worry.” The statement added: “Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership of the Vice President.”
