Rats forced President Buhari to work from home – Garba Shehu

Garba Shehu, one of the media aides to President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed that rodents damaged furniture and air conditioning fittings in the president’s official office while he was away in London for medical treatment, thereby compelling him to work from home.

Naija News had reported that the president who arrived in the country on Saturday, wrote the National Assembly on Monday, informing them on his resumption to duties after spending 105 days in London.

His media adviser, Garba Shehu told Arise News broadcaster that some animals invaded the president’s office while he was in London.

He said, “These are also general works and it is not uncommon for Nigerian presidents to also work from the presidential villa. He has used the residential office for many years.”

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“What is important is that the job gets done. Whether he does it from his bedroom or his sitting room or his anteroom — it does not matter. Let the job be done. And the job will be done.”

However, Shehu was unable to confirm what type of rodent was responsible for the damage, which occurred during the president’s absence.

“I do not have that level of detail,” he said, adding that it was unclear how long the refurbishment would last.

Recall in the weeks before Buhari left for London on May 7, he also worked from the presidential residence, missing cabinet meetings and having official documents transported to him.

It was gathered that rumours about the president’s health have dogged him even before he came to power in May 2015. He rejected claims during the election that he was critically ill from prostate cancer.

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Buhari did not address his medical condition when he addressed the nation on television on Monday, instead talking about separatism, crime, terrorism and the economy in his first speech since returning.

In an official letter he wrote to the lawmakers on Monday, notifying them of his resumption to duties, Buhari described his trip as a “medical follow-up”.

He first traveled to London in June last year for what aides said was a persistent inner ear infection, returning in January for check-ups, according to his office.