by Panshak Ibrahim

The grapevine is rife with reports that the Nasarawa state governor, Umaru Al-Makura, is suffering from kidney problems.

Having been diagnosed with a kidney-related ailment, it is believed that on Tuesday, December 30, Al-Makura was flown to an undisclosed hospital abroad.

The governor was said to have collapsed last week Tuesday, at the Government House during official hours and was driven out of the state enroute to Abuja without the usual long convoy procession.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yakubu Lamai, refuted the rumours, stating that Al-Makura is in “excellent health”.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to rumours being peddled mostly online and by the word of mouth that the health of His Excellency, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, is at risk or in question. We wish to use this medium to assure the citizens of Nasarawa State and confirm with clarity that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is alive, hale and hearty and in excellent health.”

“We recognised that this is election campaign period and publicity strategists are likely to use every available tool to gain attention including peddling unfounded rumours about His Excellency’s health. But Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who is not a stranger to political campaigns, appeals to all and sundry to concentrate on making the ongoing campaigns and the forthcoming elections issue-based,” Lamai added.

Kolapo Olapoju