JUMA'AT 1 President Muhammadu Buhari (M) flanked by the Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari and NSA Maj Gen Babagana Monhonu during the Juma'at prayers. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. MAY 5 2017
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja joined hundreds of Muslim faithful to perform the Juma’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque. It was his first public appearance in three weeks thus ending every speculation about his state of health.
Garbed in white traditional attire with a cap to match, the President arrived at the mosque at about 1.23p.m. Social media had been abuzz with speculation that the President’s health had deteriorated to the extent that he was being assisted before taking his meals. A particular online news portal said he was feeding via tubes.
The President, who came out of the mosque after the prayer, asked for the whereabouts of his Personnel Assistant on Photography, Mr Bayo Omoboriowo.
President Buhari had initially planned to receive President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic today before the visit was rescheduled at the instance of President Issoufou who has another domestic engagement.
Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina in a statement on Thursday night said all arrangements had been concluded for President Buhari to receive his Nigerien counterpart and his delegation at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa.
He said the President was to attend the Juma’at prayers together as well as lunch, before the last-minute postponement.
“A new date for the visit will be announced in due course,’’ Adesina said.
Notable personalities at the mosque included some cabinet ministers and members of the National Assembly, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru who had a meeting with the President earlier this week..
