Proceed on sick leave, let someone else take charge – Popular Nigerian journalist tells Buhari

Kadaria Ahmed, a veteran broadcast journalist and media entrepreneur, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to go on sick leave and allow someone else to take responsibility of governance in the country amid the diminishing security challenges.

Ahmed made this revelation on a television session on Wednesday, days after she joined the government in condemning the BBC Africa Eye documentary on the lawlessness in Zamfara State.

According to Ahmed, “I think Nigerians ought to tell their politicians that it is time to have a bipartisan approach to insecurity, because it’s something that is going to consume us. Even now, as it’s consuming us, we are not asking who is PDP or who is APC. And this continuous politicisation of insecurity, for me, portends serious danger to Nigeria.

“So, our politicians need to become a little more aware, and even if it’s behind the scenes, I’m not even sure if we need to be seeing them on TV working things out, no. Please go behind the scenes, sit down, and reach a bipartisan agreement about how you are going to deal with the crises that Nigeria is facing.

“We have never had it so bad. And if we are not careful, under their watch, we are losing this country. APC, PDP, all of them, so go behind the scenes.”

She added, “Even if it is a question of persuading the president. I don’t know. He has not been well. Maybe he can go on sick leave for an extended period and allow somebody else to have a go. Because by his own admission, he said something like ‘no country on its own can defeat terrorism.’

“What I am hearing is, ‘I am not too sure there is anything more I can do.’ That is what I hear when I hear that. So, maybe it is time to look at other options,” she said.