The media advisor for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul Ibe, has responded to rumours regarding his principal’s whereabouts.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ibe claimed that Atiku had visited Europe on business.
Ibe claimed that the ex-vice president left on a prearranged trip on Monday evening to meet with the technical partners of one of his business entities that had been affected by the COVID-19 global lockdown and the ensuing economic downturn.
Ibe stated that the meeting would also be centred on finalising plans for a planned expansion of its production facility.
However, there have been rumours that Atiku had travelled to France for medical treatment from some quarters, including from APC members.
The Director of New Media of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, earlier in a series of tweets, said Atiku slumped in Abuja after arriving from Kaduna, where he held his campaign on Monday.
He added that, as a result, the PDP presidential candidate had been taken to Paris, France for proper medical attention.
“After his outing in Kaduna yesterday, @atiku fell ill. He complained of dizzy spells and severe pains in his head and all over his body throughout the flight to Abuja. After landing at Abuja airport, he collapsed. He was flown to Paris for medical attention immediately. God be with him.
For the purposes of damage control, they took pictures of him with others the following morning from Paris, but please do not be fooled. There is something very wrong with the PDP presidential candidate in terms of his health and they don’t want the Nigerian public to know. “Pray for him,” he tweeted.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, denied Fani-Kayode’s statement but did not state Atiku’s whereabouts.
He said, “I don’t have any comment on that.” Fani-Kayode. Is he a doctor? Was he there? Why can’t we just focus on what is more important? Does that make any sense at all?
“Fani-Kayode said somebody is collapsing. That is not correct. You know that is a lie now. This is a man who went on a campaign yesterday and has a schedule. On the 27th, he will be in the UK for the Commonwealth.
“I have told you; it (Atiku’s UK trip) is scheduled for next week.” Of course, it (what Fani Kayode said) is a lie. It is a complete lie. ”
When he asked if Atiku was still in Nigeria at the time, he said, “Don’t quote what I didn’t say.” I didn’t tell you he was in Nigeria. I said that the statement (Fani-Kayode’s claim) is a lie. It is an irresponsible statement. Atiku Abubakar had a very successful campaign in Kaduna. “