Buhari’s office or study? Confusion over State House fumigation sparks Twitter storm

How can President Muhammadu Buhari be at work in the office on Thursday when the same office was fumigated?

This seemingly harmless question has sparked a Twitter storm and led to a trending hashtag #TheBuhariChallenge.

In a picture released by presidency on Thursday night, Buhari was seen working from the study at his residence in the State House.

TheCable confirmed that the president was in his office on Wednesday till late afternoon — two days after testing negative for the coronavirus.

However, the office was closed for fumigation on Thursday and the president was at his residence, also located within the State House, all through the day while rumours flooded the internet that he had been flown abroad.

He retired to the study after dinner and was pictured at the desk with some files.

However, in a post on Thursday night, the presidency Twitter handle said Buhari was at work “in the State House”.

“The concocted audio message about President @MBuhari’s whereabouts should be totally disregarded,” the presidency tweeted. “It is Fake News in its entirety. The President tonight at the State House, at work.”

Four minutes after, Bashir uploaded the picture of the president, saying he was at work.

“President @MBuhari; still at work!” he said.

This, however, did not go down well with some social media users who alleged that the presidential aide had misinformed the people.

This led to the #BuhariChallenge which has been trending on Twitter.

A Twitter user, Emmanuel Itunu, said the president could not have been in his office in less than 24 hours after fumigation.

“Fumigation process takes about 24 to 48 hours. Where do you say he’s working from? A 30 seconds video would have put ever doubt to rest,” he said.

Olamide Obe said not everyone is dumb to believe what the aide said about the president.

“15m people voted Buhari in, and we are a nation of over 150m people. Not all Nigerians are dumb. It hurts when you take us all for a fool,” Obe said.

“By the way, wasn’t that office fumigated in the late afternoon? And Buhari’s comfortably sitting in it tonight! No sanitizer on the table?

“Bashir, all these lies will come back to haunt you someday. Choose wisely how you want to be remembered by posterity because you are still very young. A live interactive press conference with Q&A session will save you from all these packaging. Every other leaders are at the fore.”

Fatima Adu likened the presidential aide’s comment to a propaganda.

“Nigerian Government official handle looks more like a high school gossip bulletin. Those that live by propaganda shall die by propaganda. You’re reaping what you sowed; deal with it. Nigeria has a ghost President, and Nature abhors a vacuum. #WhereIsBuhari?”

Cyprian said, “When you trying to defend lies. It means something is actually wrong. You put so much energy trying to convince Nigerians Buhari is around. Show us 2mins live video and we will not ask.”

Donal said, “I thought they fumigated the president’s office, or is that elsewhere? You guys really need to stop acting like you don’t know anything, it doesn’t just make Buhari look dead, it makes the nation sick, and makes you guys seem dumb.”

The concocted audio message about President @MBuhari’s whereabouts should be totally disregarded. It is Fake News in its entirety. The President tonight at the State House, at work. pic.twitter.com/LTCup8Llz2

— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) March 26, 2020

President @MBuhari; still at work! pic.twitter.com/ZWepHQci4q

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) March 26, 2020

They forgot that aspect. They have forgotten that they told us that Aso Rock was fumigated, only to show us pictures that Buhari is working in the same chemical ladened office?

My brother, #LyingIsNotEasy oh!!!

— The OBIdient Seeker (@The_Seeker76) March 27, 2020

Buhari is in an office that was fumigated in the late afternoon by evening, and no nose cover on, no hand sanitizer on the table, especially in this time of Covik-1-9?
People like Gimba would rather prefer to have Buhari in the office but not in charge.
This too will pass.

— Olamide Obe (@olajideobe) March 27, 2020

Bashir, all these lies will come back to haunt you someday. Choose wisely how you want to be remembered by posterity because you are still very young.
A live interactive press conference with Q&A session will save you from all these packaging.
Every other leaders are at the fore

— Olamide Obe (@olajideobe) March 27, 2020

15m people voted Buhari in, and we are a nation of over 150m people. Not all Nigerians are dumb. It hurts when you take us all for a fool.
By the way, wasn't that office fumigated in the late afternoon? And Buhari's comfortably sitting in it tonight! 👏
No sanitizer on the table?

— Olamide Obe (@olajideobe) March 27, 2020

Nigerian Government official handle looks more like a high school gossip bulletin.
Those that live by propaganda shall die by propaganda. You're reaping what you sowed; deal with it. Nigeria has a ghost President, and Nature abhors a vacuum#WhereIsBuharihttps://t.co/hEAETvCc4x

— Fatima #ObiDatti (First Lady™)أميرة المملكة الوسطى (@AmazingEleojo) March 26, 2020

https://twitter.com/Real_Webxpat/status/1243279625385652224?s=19

I thought they fumigated the president's office, or is that elsewhere ?

You guys really need to stop acting like you don't know anything, it doesn't just make Buhari look dead, it makes the nation sick, and makes you guys seem dumb.
If I were you, I'll suggest a video for proof

— Donald (@RealDonaldDoo) March 26, 2020