Man who rushed towards Buhari at Argungu festival wanted to shake his hands – Femi Adesina

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says the young man who rushed towards the president at Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi state on Thursday wanted to shake hands with the president.

Security operatives had blocked the man from running in to Buhari who had posed for photographs with some dignitaries at the event.

The video of the incident has since gone viral, with some critics of the government saying the man had the intention of attacking Buhari.

Among those who pushed this narrative is Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister, who said the young man attempted to assault the president.

But Adesina insisted that the man in question was excited to see the president and wanted to “walk straight to him for a handshake”.

“A young man was very excited to see his President at the Argungu fishing festival. He made to walk straight to him for a handshake. Security details prevented it. Now, opposite people are passing it off as an attempt to attack the President. How malicious can some people be!” he tweeted.