Okorocha, while answering questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, accused the Ekiti State governor of going against the nation’s tradition and culture by wishing the president dead instead of praying for him and wishing him well.
He called on Nigerians to regard what Fayose said as baseless, lacking in substance and simply an attempt to heat up the polity.
Okorocha, who noted that the country has been passing through a very difficult time facing a lot of challenges – politically, economically, socially, culturally, described the tough times as necessary curves great nations passed through to attain greatness.
He said, “I want to advise that this is what many great nations of the world have passed through before getting to their point of greatness and Nigeria will not be an exemption. We must see this time as a trying period for Nigeria and by the grace of God we shall overcome. So this is the time to preach love, this is the time to love one another, this is the time to embrace one another, this is the time to preach peace especially in more of the things that unite us as a people and talk not at all the things that will divide us.
“And this called to question the recent statement created to Governor Fayose over the health of Mr. President. I want to advise that Fayose’s statement should not be regarded, it is baseless and there is no substance to that information. What he said is not right, it is uncalled for and that is simply heating up the polity.
“In our culture and tradition we do not play politics with people’s lives and anybody can be sick, anybody can be in the hospital and so making such categorical statement which is unfounded that Mr. President is on life support, is to the best of my knowledge a statement of hate. That is cheap talk and Nigerians should not regard it. What we should do right now is to pray for Mr. President, wish him well, anybody can be sick. Even as he is sick out there many people have been sick in Nigeria, so we should not politicise this and play politics with people’s lives and try to create hate and confusion in the system.
“I think that has become Fasoye’s style of talk and Nigerians must never take those kind of talk serious because is capable of creating confusion in the system.”
According to the Imo State governor, Buhari’s absence has not created any vacuum as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is constitutionally carrying out the functions of the President adding that there is cause for alarm.
Okorocha said, “Moreover, the country is stable. The Acting President is doing a beautiful job, is meeting up the daily duties of Mr. President and so there is no vacuum and so there is no cause for alarm. We must at this point give every support to Mr. President and we are hoping that very soon Mr. President will come back and join us.
“So that statement is a call for concern. I do not know if he is speaking from the point of view of being the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum or he is speaking as a person or as a governor. I do not understand but whatever it is, people must disregard this statement.
“We are not in campaign any more. President Muhammadu Buhari suffered a lot of hate campaign when he was running for president. First his health should be left only for God to decide, it is not for man to decide his fate. President Buhari came into power under and unusual circumstances to defeat an incumbent president which is very uncommon in our checkered political history but did he did so and I believe that is not the making of any man but the making of God. So I believe his health is in the hands of God and nobody should play politics with it. This is my advice to Nigerians, let us focus on majors issues that concerns us as a nation.”
Asked if Fayose’s call was not genuine, Okorocha replied, “Well, I have just said that even the speculation he is making is wrong, it is unfounded. And if anybody is to speak about the President’s health Fayose does not have the qualifications to speak for the nation whether Mr. President should resign or stay. It is not in our culture, it is not in our tradition. We sympathise with those who go through pains of ill-health, at that time we don’t wish them death, we wish them well. And Mr. President’s office is properly taken care of by Mr. Acting President of Nigeria until Mr. President comes back home and continues his work and finish his term. But to say he should resign is cheap talk and does not make sense in anyway.”
When asked if he didn’t dim it necessary for the Presidency to be accountable to Nigerians since Buhari was being treated with tax payers’ money, the Okorocha replied, “Well, let me say to you that if there is an announcer that President Buhari today lacks money to treat himself abroad, believe me more than 20 million Nigerians will contribute for his health. So this is neither here nor there. You must understand what he represents and who he is.
“President Buhari naturally does not lack funds, he has never owned funds himself but people support him if the need be, he lives for the people he does not live for himself. Buhari must be seen as a great Nigerian who has made utmost sacrifice in many ramifications, you can see that from his family, you can see that from his children. He is not a man of wealth neither does he discuss it. Anytime he needs money I’m sure millions of Nigerians will contribute even if it is one kobo. So is neither here nor there talking about using national resources, he is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we must honour our President, is that office not just because of him, that office belongs to all of us.
“It is very funny when people try to bring down the office of the President thinking that they are bringing down Buhari. There are two different issue, there is presidency and there is the person of Buhari but when it has to do with Nigeria’s presidency it concerns all of us. And we will take it out on any nation that insults our president but we can forgive anybody that insults Muhammadu Buhari as an individual but the Presidency of Nigeria is sacred and we must protect it, that is the altar ego of the nation and we must protect it and that is what great people and great nation do.
“So on that note I will say that is not an issue for discussion at all.”