Buhari’s accusation, which came in response to alleged false rumours of his poor health by the PDP, was however countered by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PDPPCO) which challenged the retired general to take a brisk walk or jog round a stadium to prove his fitness.
The PDPPCO insisted that if Buhari could do that, it would allay the fears of many over his health.
Buhari at a press confer¬ence at the weekend in Abu¬ja said PDP’s desperation to pull him down at all costs led to a concocted news headline where they claimed he had flown to the United States for medical treatment.
The general noted that the report had however been proved untrue by his pres¬ence at the conference in person and not by proxy.
“I was at Nasarawa and Benue states yesterday and on Monday (Today), I am go¬ing to be in two states. The day after tomorrow, in two more states. I am doing two states per day.
“How they got the impres¬sion that I was sick, I do not know. Although I got cold, that did not stop me from go¬ing through my schedule.”
Commenting further on his alleged ill health, Buhari added: “…The issue we are telling Nigerians is that of corruption in this country. For the last 16 years, PDP has literally destroyed this country.
“This is the issue and what does my health have to do with that one?..”
Buhari added that more than anything, the inability of the Jonathan administra¬tion to tackle corruption and the lack of capacity to resolve the insurgency rav¬aging the North east particu¬larly, were the driving force behind the desperation, ask¬ing Nigerians not to be in¬timidated.
On the issue of his cer¬tificate, he explained that he had contested presidential election three times under the same rules set by the INEC and that his basic edu¬cational qualification has never been an issue.
“I was allowed to contest all these elections because my certificate was in order. There were individuals that wrote to the United States War College and the college answered them and it was published by some of your papers.
“Really, this desperation of misinformation that is being passed around will do nobody no good because our minds are being taken away from the serious issues of corruption and incompe¬tence by the PDP.”
On the State of the Nige¬rian economy, Buhari said: “the country is broke now and many states could not pay their workers’ salaries.
“Even in December most families were hungry dur¬ing Christmas because they could not be paid their sal¬ary. Yet, they are talking about the individual health instead of paying the peo¬ple.”
Said Buhari: “There is no fraud in PTF, there was an investigation and General Obasanjo has answered that question; he confirmed that there was an investigation and the report was brought to him and there was noth¬ing on ground as far as my management and chairman¬ship of the PTF was con¬cerned.
“What else can I say? The person who did the investi¬gation, because he was the head of state, said he cleared me. What else can I say?”
The “jogging” challenge was thrown yesterday by the PDPPCO through a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in Abuja. The organisation insisted that it was important that Buhari cleared the air and show Nigerians that he is not mortally ill.
According to the PDP¬PCO, “The health status of General Muhammadu Buhari has now become a major issue and it gives us cause for concern.
“We are not impressed at the fact that his campaign organisation and his politi¬cal party have tried to speak for him on this matter and we would prefer that Gen¬eral Buhari himself clears the air and tells the Nigerian people himself that he is not mortally ill.
“The rumour that he is suffering from prostate can¬cer is exceptionally worry¬ing and it is incumbent upon each and everyone of us to pray for him if this rumour is true.
“Once again, we wish to emphasise the fact that it is vital that we have full disclo¬sure about the status of his health.
Source: Daily times
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