'Merchants of lies put out of business' - Governor after a Buhari meeting

The Nigerian presidency has released a photo showing governors of the ruling party All Progressive Congress (APC) meeting a smiling and healthy looking President Muhammadu Buhari in London on Sunday.

The Special Adviser to the President Femi Adesina said in a statement that after a conversation with the Governor of Imo State who also met Buhari in London, the president laughed describing negative reports about him as lies.

“Governor Okorocha said President Buhari was completely unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He, instead, sent his best wishes to Nigerians,” the statement said.

“By our visit to London today, the merchants of lies have been put out of business and Nigerians will not buy the garbage they have been selling. All those who look up to fake news can find better use for their time,” Governor Rochas Okorocha was quoted as saying.

This meeting is the latest since the visit of acting President Yemi Osinbajo this month, and the photo is the first in almost three months since Buhari left Nigeria for Britain on May 7 for medical attention.

This is his second medical leave this year for an undisclosed ailment creating a lot of controversy in the country since his first leave in January that lasted nearly two months.

“According to the governor, Nigerians don’t have to worry at all, adding that President Buhari will be back as soon as the doctors give him the green light,” the presidency said in the statement.

Some Nigerians were however unconvinced by the picture and questioned its authenticity.

“u just released one cropped pix and u want to convince us……no way!!!!…..Release loads of pix including close pix taken by pmb so that we can look closely at him and know how he is faring,” read a comment on Facebook.

“I think Femi Adesina is among those Merchants of lies, I don’t believe this is a recent picture. If he is strong enough to sit and chat with governors then what stops him from speaking to Nigerians. BBC NEWS would be glad to interview him. We’ve heard this one, bring another lie please,” another said.

A Nigerian publisher and politician Dele Momodu said he had confirmation from another politician who was part of the meeting that they had met Buhari.

“Rotimi Amaechi has confirmed to me in a video call minutes ago that he and other APC Chieftains indeed met with President Buhari this noon,” he tweeted.

ROTIMI AMAECHI has confirmed to me in a video call minutes ago that he and other APC Chieftains indeed met with President Buhari this noon.

— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) July 23, 2017

They said the President was dead or at best in coma, now they show you picture of him at dinner with his close allies, you're still angry!

— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) July 23, 2017