•He hasn’t been flown abroad, says Presidency
•PDP, Fayose, Aso Rock workers pray for quick recovery
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Wole Balogun, Ado-Ekiti
First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday, visited her son, Yusuf, at the Cedacrest Hospital, Abuja where he is being treated following injuries he sustained to his limbs and head. He was involved in a lone power bike crash on Tuesday.
Aisha arrived the hospital located in the Gudu District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) dressed in a traditional attire and shawl, in a black SUV accompanied by security officials in the early hours of the day.
As soon as she arrived the hospital which was littered with police officers, Aisha went to the second floor after consultation with an official of the hospital.
On the heel of her mother’s visit to the hospital, Zahra Buhari-Indimi, took to her Instagram page to send her brother a get-well-soon message.
Zahra, on her instagram page, thanked Nigerians for all their kind messages to Yusuf and assured them that her brother is getting better.
She wrote: “#Get well soon Yusuf. Thank you for all the kind messages, Yusuf is doing better. Alhamdulillah.”
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, wife, Toyin, and the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole were also at the hospital, yesterday.
But contrary to widespread rumour, Yusuf has not been flown out of the country for further medical treatment, the Presidency has said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in response to Daily Sun’s text to confirm if Yusuf who crashed around Gwarimpa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had been flown to a specialist Hospital abroad, replied: “That is not true pls.”
Despite Shehu’s denial, Daily Sun gathered that the family of President Buhari is making plans to get an air ambulance to convey Yusuf to a German hospital which Cedacrest has an affiliation with for advanced medical treatment.
This is even as specialists at the Abuja hospital have reportedly advised explain the first family that it was dangerous to move him out in his current state.
“The last time they mentioned flying him abroad for better treatment, the medical team advised them against it because the boy needs to be in a good condition before he leaves,” the source added. But they do not seem to be satisfied with the advice and they are seriously considering flying him out.”
Shehu, had in a statement on Wednesday confirmed that Yusuf broke a limb and had an injury to the head as a result. “He has undergone surgery at a clinic in Abuja. He is in a stable condition,” the Presidency said.
Yusuf had crashed while racing with a friend in the capital city. It was gathered that he was trying to overtake his friend when he suddenly lost control, veered off the road and crashed.
He sustained head and body injuries and laid unconscious for a while before help came. It was learnt that his friend mobilised for help and he was quickly evacuated to Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where he underwent a surgery for the fractures and injuries he sustained to the head.
Yusuf and his sister, Zarah last July graduated from University of Surrey, Guildford, England.
Meanwhile, top politicians and prominent personalities including former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have sympathised with and prayed for the president over Yusuf’s accident.
Reacting to the news, Jonathan tweeted: “I have been in Liberia monitoring elections and only just heard the sad news. My family and I are in prayers for the quick recovery of Yusuf Buhari. It is my deep desire that a young man so full of promise should live and thrive to fulfil the promises God has domiciled in him.”
Governor Fayose also prayed for his speedy recovery.
“I wish the President’s son speedy recovery. May the healing hands of the Almighty God be upon the young man and may God be with the first family at this trying time.
“God, who is the giver of life will restore every aspect of Yusuf’s body that needs to be restored,” Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Idowu Adelusi, quoted Fayose to have said on his verified twitter handle.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it was shocked by the news of the involvement of Yusuf in an accident.
However, the opposition party said it was reassured by reports from the Presidency that he was in a stable condition.
“The PDP as a family prays for Yusuf’s speedy recovery to enable him return to his normal life. We also commend the prompt intervention by medics even as we value the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers for Yusuf and the first family,” the party stated.
Staff of the Presidential Villa also offered special prayers for the quick recovery of the president’s so.
The prayer session, which was held immediately after the afternoon (Zuhr) prayer, was led by the Chief Imam of Aso Rock Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwahid Suleiman.
Suleiman prayed almighty God to continue to guide and protect the first family and all Nigerians. He also prayed for peace, tranquillity and progress to reign supreme in the country.
Among those at the prayer session were the president’s Aide-De-Camp (ADC), Col. Lawal Abubakar; Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity; the president’s Chief Personal Security Officer, DCP Abdulkarim Dauda, as well other presidential aides and staff of the villa.