He said it was abominable to wish anyone created by God dead.
The Alaafin, who said he had been following the debate over the president’s health, noted that it was against African culture to “speculate the death of the sick.”
In a statement, he enjoined Nigerians to support the “unity and cohesion” between the President and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, saying it was not Yoruba practice or tradition to benefit from other’s misfortune.
The monarch said, “I have been following with great interest, although mixed feeling, comments that have been generated on social and conventional media on the state of health of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari.
“Let me state very clearly and unambiguously that in African culture, it is not proper to speculate the death of the sick. In Yoruba culture in particular, it is abomination not only to speculate but to wish a fellow mortal dead. Neither is it proper to mock the sick because only God determines the future of everybody.
“In the custom, belief and tradition of the Yoruba, death is not age determinant. That is why in Yoruba tradition, we always pray for the recovery of the sick, no matter his age.”
He noted that although President Buhari, like any mortal, may be physically sick, “that sickness is not in any way transferred to the style and level of governance in the country. In other words, the President might have been delegating some responsibilities to the Vice- President; he is still much in charge of the government.
“This is why recent insinuations and interpretations including some political hypothesis on the state of the President’s health is not only uncalled for, but also unwarranted.
“It is both uncharitable and untenable for the state of the health of the President to be given any ethnic insinuation of any form. Let me state with every sense of clarity and candour that it is not the practice and tradition of the Yoruba to benefit from the misfortune of others.”
The Alaafin warned that nothing should be done “by any form of political insinuation to break the wall of unity and cohesion in the Presidency, especially between the President and his very loyal deputy, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
“It is on this note that I am appealing to Nigerians, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences, to remain focused and united in their prayer for the quick recovery of Mr. President.
“The President has remained faithful to the Nigerian cause. He deserves reciprocity from Nigerians by being faithful to him too in a united prayer for his quick recovery.”
