Nigeria has released a photograph of President Muhammadu Buhari, the first in almost three months since he left the country for Britain. It’s his second medical leave so far this year, the majority of which he spent being treated for an undisclosed ailment in London.
In stark contrast to his first absence, when numerous photos of a notably skeletal leader were published, the presidency had released no images of Buhari in Britain until now.
The picture purports to show Buhari dining with senior members of his political party on Sunday, according to an accompanying statement from the presidency.
Officials have not disclosed details of Buhari’s illness, which has caused fierce speculation in Nigerian media and on social media about his ailment and whether he will seek a second term in the 2019 election. Nigerians are split on the effect of Buhari’s continued absence.
President Buhari left Abuja on May 7 and handed over power to his deputy to allay concerns of a void at the top of Africa’s biggest economy.
– By Lehana Tsotetsi
