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Buhari: Time To Rally Round The President

Published

9 years ago

May 2, 2017

By Simeone Tarka

When you look at the number of churches and mosques that bestrode the land, one can easily concede that Nigerians are very religious and godly people. But the conclusion might be the worst mistake anybody can make.

The hearts of majority of Nigerians are far from anything religious. And the evidence is not far-fetched It explains why evil dominates the land. It is reason, in spite of the overt subscription to religiosity, violent crimes besiege the land. It explains why Nigerians are very corrupt and even steal from their own farms monies they don’t even need in their lifetime.

It is reason why Nigerians have taken over the throne of God Almighty and believe they have the power to determine life and death. It is these same arrogant convictions and the usurpation of the power of God Almighty that make some Nigerians feel a leader ought not to fall sick and recuperate from illness.

There is so much inexplicable and needless fuss about the health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari. When he was away for treatment in London for 52 days, all manner of speculations polluted the land. Some said, he was dead; others said he is severely sick and incapacitated to continue in office.

Just any other odd thing was said about Buhari’s sickness. Surely, others may have prayed in their secrecy that he dies because one man’s misfortune is another man’s fortune. Very ungodly Nigerians keep pulling satanic strings against themselves, the nation and its leaders.

There is nothing spectacular about anyone falling sick. It does not matter whether you are a leader, a lawyer, market woman or bricklayer. Even doctors who treat others also fall sick and sometimes, even die from ailments they have used their talents to save the lives of others. It is precisely the mystery and divinity of life.

Only God Almighty has the power to decree life and death. It is only Him who knows every phase of your life; that is when to rise to stardom; when to ascend the leadership ladder; when to fall sick and when to recover from the illness and for how long.

The current anger in the land now is because President Buhari says he needs more time to recuperate from his ailment. And to some perverse Nigerians, it is an indication that he is gravely sick and should have willingly vacated office. They are more interested in the power which resides in Buhari. They are not concerned about his recovery. Despite their religiosity, morality has not thought them to pray for sick souls. They eat, drink and sleep on evil thoughts. And in this satanic lifestyle, they curry followership.

Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose who also tags himself a Pastor predicted the death of President Buhari at the peak of the 2015 electioneering campaigns. And some debauch Nigerians who share his odd vision about life, feel Buhari’s ailment is eventually his death. So, they are happy and whisper it from ear to ear.

But President Buhari never concealed the fact that he was severely sick for the first time in his life. When he returned to Nigeria after treatment in London, he informed Nigerians that he would still go for follow-up medical checks , which is normal with anybody gravely sick as he admitted. He also said, he needed enough time to recover and re-bounce back to his healthy self. Nigerians heard it. But some evil-minded ones felt he has no such rights because he is President of Nigeria. Haba!

Last week, President Buhari told Nigerians he would no longer be going to the office, but remains at home, in his official residence in the villa, and only performs necessary functions, as he needed rest. Obviously, the tasking routine of office denied him this rest since he came back after treatment. He made it clear that all the files requiring his attention would be brought to him at his official residence at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

No doubt, Nigerians, political jobbers, businessmen and all manner of people deprived the President the needed rest when he came back after treatment. They besieged him daily and very mindless of the fact that he is still recovering from sickness. These same Nigerians take two months leave in their offices to rest after treating malaria fever. But Buhari does not deserve it.

There is wisdom is what Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai disclosed about the necessity of President Buhari to rest and recover fully. He said, the pressure of governance does not come from official files or the memos a Governor or the President peruses daily; but from the rigours seeing people and holding discussions. It exalts an incredible strain on the body and soul. Nigerians have subjected President Buhari to this treatment, regardless of his condition and the President says, it’s enough, his health first and some people have filled the rumour-mill with every garbage.

What is so extra-ordinary about such declaration that some Nigerians are making a mountain out of a molehill? Has government ceased functioning because President Buhari is recuperating from illness? Framers of the Nigerian Constitution and elsewhere in the world are not fools to make provision for deputies to chief executives. They envisaged that the chief executive and in this case, President Buhari could fall sick, proceed on annual leave or even travel out for whatever reasons, but a vacuum should not be created.

For the 52 days he was in London for medical vacation, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo acted on his behalf. He is back and still Nigeria’s President and since he has no enough strength to face the ardous task of governing Nigeria minutely as required, the Vice President would continue to do a greater percentage of the official duties. It means, he shall only attend to extremely very sensitive and important official matters. So, where has he erred to warrant the bashing and evil propaganda by some devilish Nigerians?

Has Vice President Osinbajo complained President Buhari is inaccessible to him? Or he is unable to relate with him on state matters. Can someone be bold enough to clear the air? Why invoke the Constitution at this point? If Buhari becomes so incapacitated to continue in office, the Constitution does not say he should be forced to relinquish power. He has to do it willingly and Buhari is one leader who is largely very honest with himself and Nigerians. He will not spend a minute of delay, once the circumstances suggest that he can no longer continue in office.

Nigerians stop idling over mundane issues. So, the time has come for President Buhari’s loyalists to act; to stand up and to defend a leader who is unjustly and unfairly maligned by power mongers and ethnic champions. They should stand up and put an end to the madness of those playing politics with the President’s health, as if falling ill is the exclusive reserve of the President. The Nigerian Constitution does not say when the President falls sick, he should vacate power.

On the flip side, the power mongers should rather be happy that President Buhari has minimized the extent of state engagements. And in his place, the Vice President is actively functioning and performing as they claimed. The same vagabonds in power claimed President Buhari is running a Northern agenda in the Presidency and did everything at their disposal to vilify him. But today, the reason of Buhari’s plea of time to fully recover from his ailment has increased the visibility of Vice President Osinbajo. Should this not make them happier hence Osinbajo has the opportunity now to also promote a Southern agenda.

Nigerians should begin to be serious with themselves. They should learn to engage and dissipate their energies on worthwhile ventures. They should copy the positive attitudes of citizens of other nations. It does not mean the number of years German Chancellor Angela Merkel has remained on seat, she has not fallen sick. But have Germans ever made an issue out of it because their leader is sick?

It is so sad and irritating to realize that despite the extent of the endowment of Nigerians, some deliberately make themselves the laughing stock of the world. President Buhari is still loved by the Nigerian masses and no matter the ill-feelings power mongers nurse against him, it will not obliterate this passion for him. The power vermins can only wish and invoke satanic prayers against him, but God Almighty will not give His blessings to it. It is time for Nigerian masses to rise up in defence of President Buhari against the swords of these vultures and locusts of power.

Tarka, an elder-statesman writes from Tarka Local Government Area, Benue State.

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Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims

Published

20 minutes ago

July 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A security team, comprising operatives of DSS and forest guards, has rescued two victims of abduction in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire area of isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

The rescued victims are 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez who is five-year old.

The team also eliminated two armed bandits, while others escaped with severe injuries as the security forces stormed their hideouts, according to a report by DSS and local authorities.

The security team also recovered several items from the kidnappers, including one Ak-47 rifle; one single barrel; one fully loaded magazine with nine empty; mini-solar panel; and food items.

The rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government.

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Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has commenced full-scale investigations into the killing of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the murder as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those behind the attack.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased left home for his farm in the morning but did not return, prompting his family members and local vigilantes to organise a search.

The search party reportedly found his motorcycle parked on the farmland before discovering his lifeless body a short distance away. Police said the victim had sustained deep machete cuts.

Reacting to the incident, CP Adekimi ordered investigators to deploy all available intelligence and investigative resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“The killing is cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” the commissioner of Police said, assuring residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Although no suspect had been arrested as of Monday, the command said all available leads were being diligently pursued.

The police also assured the bereaved family, the people of Isin Local Government Area and the general public that investigators were working tirelessly to track down everyone connected with the crime.

“The Kwara State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and will not relent until every person responsible for this reprehensible act is brought before the law,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

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Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A coordinated security operation involving the Kwara State Police Command, other security agencies and the Kwara State Polytechnic Security Unit has led to the arrest of a suspected cultist, Agboola Olamilekan, with a locally fabricated pistol recovered from him in Ilorin.

The operation, carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state, was described by the police as another breakthrough in intelligence-driven policing aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reducing the circulation of illegal firearms.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect was apprehended during the joint operation while in possession of the firearm.

According to the statement, the operation is part of the Command’s sustained strategy to disrupt cult-related activities and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate within the state.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.

“Every successful operation represents another step towards dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety across the state through proactive and intelligence-led policing,” the commissioner said.

The police disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the criminal network linked to the suspect.

The Command added that it remains committed to advancing the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through intelligence-led policing, strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sustained operations aimed at ensuring that those responsible for threatening the peace and security of Kwara State are brought to justice.