Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s spokesmen on Monday denied reports that their candidate for president of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was ill and had been sent abroad for medical care.
Paul Ibe, the former vice president’s media adviser, was the first to respond. Atiku went on holiday, he said, adding that his principal is in good health.
Expatiating, Ibe via his twitter handle, @omonlakiki, Ibe said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the presidential candidate of the PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) will be arriving in London on Monday, January 9 for meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday on the invitation of the British Government.”
This puts an end to speculations raised by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the director of special projects and new media for the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign council, who had earlier said the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is ill and receiving treatment in London.
Atiku’s alleged poor health was also debunked by Chief Dele Momodu, Director of Strategic Communications for the PDP Campaign Council’s National Election Management Committee, who noted that: “The man went on vacation. Anyone who knows him can tell you that the man (Atiku) does not joke about his vacation. He went to Dubai from where he would be leaving for London on Monday (today). When he arrived in Dubai, I was the first person he spoke with. I was in Turkey at the time. The report is the joke of the year. How can a man who is hale and hearty be flown out?”.
Fani-Kayode made this claim in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle on Sunday. He tweeted, “Yet again Mr. Privatise Everything fell dangerously ill & ran to Dubai for a “stich it up” procedure. Watch how he walks & you will know what’s going on. Now he is on his way to the UK to beg British MP’s for their support. Must he bend the knee for the Brits too? Truly shameful.”
Senator Dino Melaye, the spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization, also reacted, advising Nigerians to disregard the story since its sources are blatant liars.
He said: “Disregard the lies of unrepentant liars. Atiku is 100 per cent fit and in super form, health-wise. The British government invited the leading presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, just like that they had invited Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi earlier.”
