Nigerian politicians have used all kinds of words to describe President Muhammadu Buhari’s state of health since he left Nigeria 41 days ago today for his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.
To the governor of Katsina state, Aminu Bello Masari, who spoke with Mr. Buhari last Saturday, February 25, the President is simply “hale and hearty”.
“On Saturday, I spoke with the president on phone, he is hale and hearty. All those castigating rumors on the health condition of the president should think twice and change their mindset,” he said.
For those who may not be familiar with those words, “hale and hearty” is used when someone is strong and well.
But perhaps, the President of the Senate, Mr. Bukola Saraki, used more words than anyone else.
The same day after meeting President Buhari in London on February 15, Mr. Saraki issued a statement describing Mr. Buhari as healthy, witty and himself”. The President, he added, was also, doing well, cheerful and in good spirits”
“Myself, Rt Honorable Yakubu Dogara and leader of Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan paid a visit to President Buhari in Abuja House in London,” Mr. Saraki said.
“We were delighted to see that President Buhari is doing well, was cheerful and in good spirits. “The president I saw today is healthy, witty and himself,” he added.
According to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, President Buhari is “as fit as a fiddle”.
In a tweet via his verified official twitter handle @YakubDogara on Thursday, 16 February, a day after Meeting Mr. Buhari in London, the Speaker said they discussed national issues with the President.
“After burning national issues, it was all PMB’s vintage humorous jokes. I’m so elated he is as fit as a fiddle,” he said.
There have been many other words from the President’s spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu. To Adesina, the President is not sick. To Shehu, President Buhari is resting.
To Bola Tinubu, while attending the inauguration of Ondo state government, the President “I saw the other day is healthy and well”.
But even as they have all used political words, the truth is President Buhari is sick, and is undergoing tests or treatment in the United Kingdom so that he can be well, hale and hearty, cheerful, as fit as a fiddle, witty and any other word that describes someone who is not sick.