Former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has dismissed anxiety over the state of health of the President Mohammadu Buhari.
He said the president was recuperating fast, and would in fact, return from his medical trip by June 11.
Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Kalu who said he was in London to have first hand knowledge of the state of health of Buhari charged Nigerians to pray for him to enable him recover fast and return to his duty post.
“I went to Washington to visit some business partners and from there stopped in London to see Mr. President, who is recovering very fast. I am excited over the state of health of President Buhari despite the hate messages people are spreading about him. I am disappointed with the statement coming from some Nigerians about the health of Mr. President. The messages some Nigerians have been spreading in the social media are unhealthy. I am calling on Nigerians to have a change of heart. Being a president does not mean you cannot be sick, the hate messages are becoming too much. There must be good sense of tolerance among the ethnic groups; we are all one.”
Kalu said it was wrong to embark on any assessment of the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who he said was carrying out his constitutional duties and should continue to discharge them.
On the state of the nation, Kalu said Buhari has done well in the fight against insurgency and the war against corruption, but said government should obey constitutional provisions as they affect the judicial arm of government.
“Government must pursue the hardware and software of democracy. That includes the rule of law and respect of the constitution.”
Kalu pleaded with students in the United Kingdom to emulate Muslims and Christians in places like Banjul, Senegal, Sierra Leon, Liberia among others who he said cohabitate peacefully.
The former Abia governor who made the calls while addressing African students from Oxford University including staff and students drawn from Oxford Brookes University, Bellerbys College and neighbouring colleges in Oxford, United Kingdom during a Ramadan fast breaking dinner he hosted, accused African leaders of using sentiments to cause hatred among the populace in the cover of religion.
“African leaders and people should stop causing problems, there is a lot of hatred being preached in Nigeria. I am always excited whenever I go to Gambia, Senegal, Liberia, Freetown and I see Muslims and Christians sharing things in common. I wish it were Nigeria because the Christmas in Banjul looks like a Sallah in Banjul and Sallah in Banjul looks like a Christmas in Banjul. You hardly recognize the difference, so those of you who are not from Nigeria might not know what you are enjoying. But I am sure that with increasing religious enlightenment on tolerance and understanding Nigeria people should be doing same,” he said.
On Ramadan observed by Muslims, Kalu stated that being a committed Catholic did not stop him from associating with Muslims. He said he has been observing Ramadan for the past 25 years, adding that part of his upbringing was by Hausa Fulani.
“I am a committed Catholic; it takes a good Christian to respect a good Muslim and vice versa. It is bilateral. So, I believe that we Africans should start living in peace. Although this is neither the first nor the second time of coming to your school, I am grateful for the time we are spending together today and above all, breaking fast together with you. Prior to my daughter’s entry to this university, I have always visited on invitation for participation in your programmes. With me here is Mr Saheed, a Pakistani and friend. He also used to work with President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf is also in London; I have also seen him. So, you can see that we are all families. There is no difference between Christians and Muslims.
“I want you to remain committed to peace and oneness. You shouldn’t wait to be told that we want you to leverage on your education and exposure and preach peace all over Africa especially Nigeria.
“You should preach against terrorism and killers; those who don’t want us to live in peace. Those of you from Nigeria should not forget to pray for your president. He is in London and I just finished seeing him before coming here. He is doing very fine and will soon return to the country to continue his work. Both the Bible and Koran request us to be praying for our leaders and it is good you keep praying for our leaders. There is nothing wrong in anybody being sick, there is nothing wrong with anybody being in hospital, but there is everything wrong in people wishing their fellow human beings death. It is unethical; it is not acceptable by any norm, any religion, any person or anybody. President Buhari is sincerely committed to putting the country in its supposed shape.”
