President Muhammadu Buhari is well, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said on Wednesday, after Mr. Buhari failed to show up at the council meeting.
The meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the first time that had happened while Mr. Buhari was in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information said the President directed the Vice President to preside over the meeting, but said there was nothing wrong with him.
“I just want to make this clear, Mr. President is in town. Mr. President is attending to other issues. Mr. President looked at the agenda, it was a very light agenda, and he said that the Vice President should preside,” said Mr. Lai Mohammed.
“It is not unusual the kind of interest that has been shown, especially given the fact that Mr. President was away for a while on medical treatment, and we are not surprised that people would be wondering, Mr. President is he ill again?
“He’s not sick,” the Minister added.
Mr. Buhari returned from medical vacation on March 10 after 50 days in London. The President said he might travel back within weeks.
On Wednesday, rumours began to spread that Mr. Buhari might be very sick. But the government has dismissed such rumours or claims as false.