EL-RUFAI: IT’S NOT COMPULSORY FOR BUHARI TO PRESIDE AT FEC MEETING

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday said it is not compulsory for President Muhammadu Buhari to preside over the Federal Executive Council meeting.

The governor briefed newsmen after the second meeting between the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the 24 governors, which was held yesterday.

He said, “That is why our constitution makes provision for a vice president. Mr President is 70 something years old. And it is usual at that age, as I have said, to have one medical challenge or the other.

“Even I, at 57, take medication for one ailment or the other. Our prayer is that the president gets better and well. But the reason why he has the vice president is precisely for this reason. It may not be because he has any medical challenge that he didn’t attend FEC meeting. He may have other pressing matters to attend to.

“I have not chaired every State Executive Council meeting even when I’m in Kaduna because the deputy governor is there. We are not worried yet. We have no concern to be worried. But we ask Nigerians to join all of us in praying for the president’s improved health. It has improved in the last few weeks, since he came back. And we will continue to pray for the improvement of his health