The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has given reasons why the president was absent at Saturday’s burial of late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and other military officers who died in a plane crash in Kaduna on Friday.
There have been criticisms and condemnations of the President’s decision to shun the burial, which took place at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
Giving reasons via her verified Twitter’s handle on Sunday, Onochie said a protocol exists which mandates 48 hours notice or knowledge of an event before the president can attend.
The Presidential aide, however, said she was not aware of such rule before it was shared by one Muhammed Yusuf.
“WHY PRES @MBuhari DID NOT ATTEND THE FUNERAL FOR OUR LATE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF AND THE OTHER HEROES WHO DIED IN AN AIRCRASH.
”For a Nigerian President to be at any funeral or event outside the Villa, the event must have at least 48 hours…” Onochie tweeted.
Senseless excuse as usual! Her comments are always terrible! 48hours notice abi? Orite! No problem! Thank God that important human beings attended the funeral. But who knows, whether some people who need 48hours notice and those attending wedding at Kano, while very important COAS & others are being buried will even have funerals. The fishes may have them as a good meal or their funeral companions.