President Buhari Didn’t Attend COAS Attahiru’s Burial Because Of Traffic – Garba Shehu

The Presidency has revealed why President Muhammad Buhari didn’t attend the burial of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and other officers in Abuja last Saturday.

KanyiDaily recalls that many Nigerians had criticized President Buhari for not attending the burial ceremony of late Attahiru and six other senior military officers, who died in a plane crash on Friday evening in Kaduna.

Reacting in an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Garba Shehu, Buhari’s spokesman, said the president did not want to cause a traffic jam on Abuja road.

According to him, Buhari does not like “this idea of closing roads, security men molesting people on the road” whenever he is out for an event outside Aso Rock.

“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 Jumaat 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,” Shehu said.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of Ibrahim Attahiru, describing the incident as a “mortal blow” to the country.

KanyiDaily recalls that President Buhari had on January 26, 2021 appointed Attahiru to succeeded Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai as the Chief of Army Staff.