By Simon Ateba/Washington DC
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday missed the weekly cabinet meeting for the third time in one month, as anxiety mounted over his health and insinuations escalated that he had become too sick to run Nigeria again. One of such meetings was abruptly cancelled last month.
The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over today’s meeting attended by most ministers, an act he had now performed for the past one month.
On Tuesday, the government said Mr. Buhari, who had not been seen in public for more than a week, would emerge from his private residence to hold meetings with his chief of staff, the Minister of Justice and others.
First Lady, Aisha Buhari, took to the social media hours before those meetings to admit that her husband was sick but not as bad as media reports had been painting it.
She said the President was still performing his presidential duties at home, and announced that he would be meeting with some government officials later in the day.
Many then expected Mr. Buhari, who also missed his Friday’s prayers last week, to preside over the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. But on Wednesday, Mr. Osinbajo was the one leading the meeting.
Below are some of the pictures of the meeting.
Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo with Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari shortly before the commencement of the FEC Meeting at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja. 3rd May 2017. NOVO ISIORO.
