Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has clarified his absence from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s burial on Tuesday in Daura, Kastina State.
Obi, who faced online criticism for not attending, said the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport in Katsina was closed due to the significant influx of dignitaries, making his attendance impossible.
Speaking to Arise TV on Wednesday, after attending the Fiddau Prayer for the deceased in Daura, Katsina State, Obi said: “It was difficult to come here yesterday, you can’t land in Katsina Airport because it was closed due to the dignitaries that came in.”
He noted that the period of mourning would extend into the following day, meaning anyone who attended then would still be participating in the grieving process.
During the interview, Obi recalled his interactions with former President Buhari during his presidential campaign.
He specifically remembered Buhari’s advice to “take care of poor Nigerians,” which, according to Obi, demonstrated the former president’s genuine concern for the welfare of the Nigerian populace.
“I am not close to him, only met him during my campaign, and I still remember what he said, ‘please take care for the poor Nigerians.’ He had sincere concern for poor Nigerians,” Persecondnews quotes Obi as saying.
Other prominent figures who attended the prayer session included, Vice President Kashim Shettima, ex-VP Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
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