By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – Surprise greeted the faces of most people at the
national mosque in Abuja who felt disappointed over the
absence of the president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari
at the special Friday service to mark the beginning of a
week long activities of his inauguration next week.
Journalists who were invited to cover the ceremony had
gathered but to the chagrin of everyone, Buhari was not
sighted anywhere around the crowded mosque.
No official reason was given for his absence at the mosque.
Vanguard
correspondent later read from an online news medium,
Shaharareporters that Buhari jetted out of the country to the
United Kingdom, UK, in early hours of Friday morning
without prior knowledge of most of his aides.
It later became obvious that the president-elect was not
available when former Vice President and chieftain of All
Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stepped
out of the mosque and said he was Buhari’s representative
at the special service.
Speaking, he said “I’m here with some of the governors that
accompany me to represent the president-elect who is
unavoidablly absent. The prayers have gone on very well.
We are grateful for all the support and corporation of all
Nigerians. We have prayed to have a successful transfer of
power on the Inauguration Day which is on the 29th of May
this year insha Allah.”
Meanwhile, in his sermon earlier, the Deputy Chief Imam of
Abuja Central Mosque, Dr. Muhammad Kabir Adam said
that public office and position was a trust given to people by
God.
According to him, anyone given a position of trust should
lead with the fear of God even as he prayed for God’s
guidance, protection and blessing upon Nigeria.
He said: “The central massage of today is on trust. When
Almighty Allah gives someone position in whatever kind,
that position is a trust. So, the massage today is that
everybody should fear Allah in managing the affairs of the
trust that was giving to them by him.
“We pray to Allah to protect this country, shower his
blessings on this country and also pray to Almighty Allah to
guide our leaders. Let them lead with justice and let them
do all they could do to make sure that common man of this
country lives a good life.”
As at 7:15 pm when this report was filed, Vanguard had not
received official comments from Buhari’s media aide,
Mallam Garba Shehu who when called promised to issue a
statement as to what led to the absence of the president-
elect at the 2015 presidential inauguration service.
It will be recalled that the last public function Buhari had was
the receipt of the interim report of his transition technical
committee and the Nigerien president, Mahamadou Issoufou
who paid him a congratulatory visit in Abuja on Thursday
evening.
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