Buhari hates causing traffic, reason he didn’t attend burial of army chief

 

Presidential spokesman Malam Garba Shehu, has offered possible reason President Muhammadu Buhari did not attend the funeral of late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

Attahiru and 10 other military officers died in a Nigerian Air Force plane crash in Kaduna International Airport, last Friday. They were buried Saturday, May 23, 2021 at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, with neither the President nor the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo in attendance.

The absence of the President at the funeral of the officers who died on national assignment elicited widespread condemnation by Nigerians, especially on social media platforms.

However, speaking when he featured on an ARISE TV programme, Shehu said although he had not discussed the issue with President Buhari, he knew the president hated causing traffic gridlock on the roads.

READ: ‘Hot Choco mi’…Moving tribute by fiancée of pilot, who flew plane that killed Army Chief

He cited the instance of Buhari observing Juma’at at Aso Rock in order to avoid closure of roads.

“I was in Europe myself on assignment and I have not spoken to the president on this but let me give you just one example: the president is somebody who is so concerned about the safety and wellbeing of ordinary Nigerians on the streets.

“Do you know why he now prays his Juma’at in the State House and doesn’t go to the National Mosque? Because he doesn’t like this idea of closing roads, security men molesting people on the road for the president to have the right of way.

“These are small things for many people but they are important for President Muhammadu Buhari. So, it is a mourning situation and the president didn’t want to take away attention from that.”