Buhari's health: North panics

Even as the nation prays for the quick recovery of Presi­dent Muhammadu Bu­hari, who is said to be nursing an ear infection, feelers have emerged that a cross section of North­ern leaders and politi­cians are becoming ap­prehensive of the region losing out again in the power equation.

The AUTHORITY on Sunday learnt that meet­ings are going on at very high levels among North­ern political leaders who are anxious to avoid a repeat of late President Umaru Yar’Adua ill health saga.

It was learnt that a meeting of the Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the North held recently in Asokoro, Abuja had the issue at the front burner.

A credible source told the AUTHORITY on Sunday that it is a tensed issue in the North, after losing power to the South in 2010, when Yar’Adua passed on.

“The Northern lead­ers may pretend they are not disturbed, but political meetings have commenced, the APC governors of Northern extraction are not willing to take chances. They are not looking at it as a minor issue. In politics, you have to be prepared”

“The Northern politi­cians, especially the gov­ernors are aware of the constitution as it relates to vacancy of any political office, so the jostling is in high gear”

The AUTHORITY on Sunday learnt that there is more to the recent release of Presidential Campaign posters of a North-East Governor pairing him with another governor from the South-East.

It was also learnt that the recent call for restruc­turing of the country by a former Vice-President was part of the plans by politicians in the North­ern to position them.

“Who printed the post­ers, we are being told that unknown people printed it, which is a lie. Among them, there is already a jostling for political rele­vance in case of any even­tuality, which we are not praying for”

In his reaction, former Minister of Sports during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, Bala Kao­je told The AUTHORITY on Sunday that Nigerians are praying for Buhari, saying he is coming back in good health.

“It is a minor thing which Nigerians shouldn’t be apprehensive about. Anybody can fall sick.”

President Buhari is scheduled to return to Abuja today from his va­cation in London where he also attended to his ear ailment.

Meanwhile, the contitu­tion provides that, should the president be incapaci­tated enough not to carry on with his presidential duties, the vice-president automatically takes over.