Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on
Thursday, cautioned politicians against causing disunity and in-cohesion
between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who
is currently the Acting President.
The monarch, in a statement made available to journalists in
Ibadan, Oyo State capital, said that some people wanted to use political
insinuations over Buhari’s health to achieve their inordinate ambitions to
destabilise the country.
Oba Adeyemi, however, appealed to all Nigerians, irrespective
of religious and ethnic differences, to remain focused and united in their
prayer for the quick recovery of President Buhari.
Buhari had travelled to London on Sunday for medical
attention. According to the a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity to President Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, the length of his stay would
be determined by the doctors.
Oba Adeyemi said: “In this respect, nothing should be by any
form of political insinuation to break the wall of unity and cohesion in the
presidency, especially between the President and his very loyal Vice, Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN.
“It is on this note that I am appealing to all Nigerians,
irrespective of religious or ethnic differences to remain focused and united in
their prayer for the quick recovery of Mr. President.
“The President had remained faithful to the Nigerian cause.
He deserves reciprocity from all Nigerians by being faithful to him too in a
united prayer for his quick recovery.”
Oba Adeyemi maintaied that some political gladiators might
have been playing politics with the health of Buhari to destabilise the
presidency, and by extension, the country.
He continued: “I have been following with great interest,
though mixed feeling, comments that have been generated on both social and
conventional media on the state of health of the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Muhammadu Buhari.
“Let me state very clearly and unambiguously that in African
culture, it is not proper to speculate the death of the sick. In Yoruba culture
in particular, it is abomination not only to speculate but to wish a fellow
mortal dead. Neither is it proper to mock the sick because only God determines
the future of everybody.
“In the custom belief and tradition of the Yoruba, death is not
age determinant. That is why in Yoruba tradition, we always pray for the
recovery of the sick, no matter his age.
“In the particular case of President Buhari; although like
any mortal, he may be physically sick, that sickness is not in any way transferred
to the style and level of governance in the country. In other words, the
President might have been delegating some responsibilities to the Vice
President; he is still much in charge of the government.
“That is why recent insinuations and interpretations
including some political hypothesis on the State of the President’s health is
not only uncalled for but unwarranted. It is both uncharitable and untenable
for the state of the health of President to be given any ethnic insinuation of
any form. Let me state with every sense of clarity and candour that it is not
the practice and tradition of the Yoruba to benefit from the misfortune of
others.”
By Oluseye Ojo
