Naija Bet reacts to betting odd on Buhari’s return

A Nigerian sports betting firm has dismissed claims that it disrespected the country’s ailing president, Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in London undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

“We would just like to put this on record, Nigerians want their president back, we are only trying to voice the yearning of the people via the little platform we have,” Naija Bet tweeted on Thursday in reply to a tweet by The Guardian on the subject.

We would just like to put this on record,

Nigerians want their president back, we are only trying to voice the yearning of the people via

— NaijaBet.com (@NaijaBet) August 3, 2017

the little platform we have. We want to show the President & the government that the people are anxtious for his well being and anticipate

— NaijaBet.com (@NaijaBet) August 3, 2017

The president’s return to Nigeria has been subjected to a lot of speculation though his office has consistently maintained that he would return only when his doctors give him the go ahead.

But speculations surrounding his imminent return to Nigeria were heightened earlier in the week when the presidential jet that has been on standby in the United Kingdom since May 7 reportedly left London.

Naija Bet, in the light of the growing assumptions, decided to give punters a chance to bet on President Buhari’s likely return date.

The move has been interpreted by some Nigerians as a slap on the ailing leader. But the betting company said it did not mean to disrespect the 74-year old leader.

“We want to show the President and the government that the people are anxious for his wellbeing and anticipate his early return (hence the short window dates as betting options).”