President will spend 8 years in office - Babachir Lawal

Lawal also said that Buhari will live longer than those who have been spreading rumours that he is dead.

The SGF made the comments on Tuesday, February 14, while addressing a group of pro-Buhari protesters at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.

“Baba Buhari didn't anticipate the problem that we are in. The people who caused this problem are the one challenging the government. I tell you that they will fail in the name of God," Lawal said.

"Shamelessly, they accused the president of not performing. And in fact, some of them wished him dead. But I can assure you that by the grace of God, he will outlive all of them.

“I assure you that by the grace of God, in the next one year, Nigeria will have a booming economy. The foundation being laid by the government is solid. And nobody, even after the president has finished his eight years, can ever take us back to the pre-2015 days. This, I can assure you,” he added.

President Buhari has been in London since January 19 when he left Nigeria for a 10-day medical vacation. Rumours that the president had died began to spread due to his silence while on vacation.

The Presidency has however denied the rumours and insists that Buhari is hale and hearty.

Concerns about the president's health escalated further when, on February 5, he wrote the Senate to extend his vacation indefinitely.

According to the letter, Buhari will not return to the country till his doctors rule out "certain factors."

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However, Buhari spokesman, Garba Shehu