COVID-19: Presidency Counter Claims Of Buhari Been Flown Out For Treatment, Shares Buhari’s Photo In Aso Rock
The presidency late Thursday shared a photo of President Muhammadu Buhari supposedly at his home office in the Presidential Villa to counter rumours that the president contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19) and had been flown out of the country for medical care.
The presidency shared the photo after Nigerians demanded President Buhari’s whereabouts using the “#WhereIsBuhari” and “#Buhari Challenge” hashtags on Twitter on Thursday.
The hashtags trended at number one and two positions respectively following rumours that the president was secretly flown out of the country alongside his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, who was said to have tested positive for COVID-19.
The presidency captioned the picture showing Buhari working at his office: “President Muhammadu Buhari at his office earlier tonight at the State House.
“Please do kindly ignore audio messages making the rounds about President Buhari and his Chief of Staff. They are fake!,” Garba Shehu, the president’s senior media assistant, said.
Meanwhile, the presidency had earlier issued a statement quoting President Buhari as urging Nigerians to abide by the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to help curb the spread of the virus in the country.
Shehu had quoted Buhari as saying: “I advise all Nigerians to follow to the letter the health guidelines issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and our State Governments.
“Wash your hands thoroughly many times throughout the day. Observe ‘social distancing’ of a minimum of two meters.
Do not make unnecessary journeys outside of your homes. Do not attend public meetings or public gatherings – including religious events – which is where, through social contact, the virus can easily be transmitted.
“The Federal Ministry of Health will continue to issue daily updates on all developments. Please refer to public announcements by the Ministry on radio, television, www.health.gov.ng and @Fmohnigeria.’’
Shehu added that the president had approved N10 billion to support the Lagos State government’s efforts to combat and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Lagos and the rest of the country.
