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•Only God’s counsel on Buhari’s health shall stand –Adesina
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend charged Nigerians to be more dedicated to the services of God and humanity.
He gave the charge at the funeral outing and thanksgiving service of the first Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Barnabas Sanyaolu Oloruntoba, at 2nd ECWA Church, Amilegbe, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Osinbajo said there is close relationship between service to God and service to humanity, adding that anyone who serves God well will directly or indirectly be serving humanity.
He described the late Oloruntoba as a man who served God and humanity during his lifetime, and also made significant contributions to national development, particularly in the agriculture sector.
In his remarks, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed described late Oloruntoba as a man who lived a life worthy of emulation and called on Nigerians to emulate the late agriculturist by “thinking more of what they can contribute to the growth and development of the nation.”
In his sermon, Minister-in-charge of the Church, Dr Reverend John Owoeye, advised the congregation to live a life of positive impact, saying all mortals would taste death.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said only God’s counsel as regards the president’s health shall stand.
In what appears to be reaction to speculation on social media that Buhari is dead, the presidential Spokesman, on his tweeter handle, prayed for those Nigerians praying for the president’s recovery.
He said: ”@FemAdesina: Why do some people rage and imagine vain things? It is the counsel of God that shall stand. May God bless all those praying for PMB.”
President Buhari left for London Sunday, May 7, for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors. How long he will be away, will be determined by the doctors, Adesina had said in a statement.
Buhari had received the 82 Chibok schoolgirls who were released from Boko Haram captivity on Saturday, May 6, before departing for his medical follow ups.
The president had transmitted letters about the trip to the Senate and the House of Representatives, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Vice President Osinbajo has been acting in his stead.
According to Adesina: “The president wishes to assure all Nigerians there is no cause for worry. He is very grateful for the prayers and good wishes of the people, and hopes they would continue to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.
“The length of the president’s stay in London will be determined by the doctors. Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership of the vice president.”
Regardless, a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Princess Hadiza Ibrahim, has said President Buhari might have lost the 2015 presidential election if he had not contested the poll with Prof Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate.
In an interview with Daily Sun in Ibadan, she said: “Vividly, by my analysis, if Buhari and a running mate order than Osinbajo had contested the presidential election in 2015, he (Buhari) might not have come into power. I believe Osinbajo is God sent. Hadiza, who has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged Nigerians to respect the joint mandate they gave Buhari and Osinbajo.
“Whenever Buhari has to travel for a long time, Osinbajo should always assume the position of Acting President in accordance with Section 145 of our constitution,” she said.
