text: Nigeria’s first lady, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has sent her staff on indefinite leave shortly after the rumour mill became awash with insinuations that the first lady was either pregnant or afflicted by cancer.
  Senior Special Adviser to the President on Health and Development Partners in the First Lady’s office, Mohammed Kamal, announced this in a terse statement.
  Seventy-nine-year-old Buhari was in Turkey with Aisha, 50, between December 16 and 19, 2021 to attend the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit.
  But pictures of Aisha cradling a bump-like stomach released by the Presidency after the trip had sparked the pregnancy rumours.
  Spokesman to the President’s wife, Aliyu Abdullahi; and another official working in her office, Suleiman Haruna, were not available for comments.
  A statement on Tuesday by Kamal, however, said the President’s wife ordered the entire staff in her office to proceed on indefinite leave and henceforth work virtually.
  According to the statement posted on the verified Instagram handle of the First Lady, “This serves to inform all staff that the office of the First Lady will be closed for the upcoming festive period of Christmas and New year.
  “To this end, all staff are requested to proceed on leave, until further notice.
  “Please note that official engagements and work can also continue virtually as it was done previously.
  “Her Excellency appreciates and thank all staff for their commitment and hard work and wish all a happy festive period ahead.”
  Recall that Aisha, who is said to be a mother of five children, last year travelled out of Nigeria and stayed away in Dubai for about six months and only returned to the country in March 2021.
  The First Lady had been one of the virulent critics of the current administration under her husband’s leadership, especially it’s handling of the insecurity ravaging the country.