COVID-19 in Aso Rock: Past secrete handling of Buhari’s health fuels infection concerns

COVID-19 in Aso Rock: Past secrete handling of Buhari’s health fuels infection concerns

Amid the recent spread of COVID-19 among the aides of President Muhammadu Buhari, concerns over possible infection of the President is spreading on social media.

In the past couple of days, several close aides of the President have contracted the deadly virus. Those who have reportedly contracted the virus are; Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tijani Umar; the President’s aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, and his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Most of these officials do have direct contacts with the President. Most of them could be in the same room with the President.

However, no report yet on the COVID-19 status of Buhari. The past handling of the health status of the president is fueling rumor of the possibility that the president must have probably contracted the virus.

In the past 6 years, President Buhari has treated undisclosed illness in Hospitals in the United Kingdom. Even when the president spent several months in the UK, the presidency declined to disclose the health situation of the President.

It would be recalled that the 2017 hospital stay led to the rumor that Mr Buhari had died.

Highly exposed

Despite the spread of the virus, the President continues to travel around the world and meeting leaders. These foreign trips could have exposed the president despite taking the vaccine.

It would be recalled that his late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari died of the deadly disease at the beginning of the pandemic. Mr Kyari was reported to be very close to the President.

It would also be recalled that South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa had contracted the virus after visiting Nigeria during the West Africa tour.

All over the world, leaders who have contracted the virus have made their status public, including former US President, Donald Trump and UK’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. In the case of the former military leader, his health status has been shredded in secrecy.

Sources at the Villa said that “even if the president had contracted the virus, it would still be known to very few persons handling the President.”

Another source said, “those who have reported to have contracted the virus are too close to the President for a proper test not to be carried out to ensure that the president is negative. Although vaccination could help to minimise the impact of the virus, but that persons still spread the virus.”

The Presidential Villa remains a trove of activities, where the President on a daily basis is in contact with people.