By Samuel Malik, Abuja

Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed dismay at the front page advert in Monday’s Punch newspaper that appears to tell Nigerians not to vote for him in order to avoid another “state burial.”

The advert, sponsored by Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, has the picture of Buhari placed alongside late president and heads of state, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Murtala Mohammed and Sani Abacha, with the message “Will you allow history to repeat itself? Enough of state burials.”

The advert was apparently sarcastically amplifying speculations about Buhari’s stste of health.

Reacting to the advert, Buhari said, “How can his (President Goodluck Jonathan) campaign be talking about dead ex-leaders, jogging around the stadium and outright lies about my health?”

Buhari’s office similarly expressed its concern about the President team’s campaign strategy, saying it was “deeply concerned about the unhinged tone and nature of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign.”

The All Progressive Congress has over the past few days seen questions raised about its presidential flag bearer’s health, with reports alleging that he suffers from prostate cancer.

While both the party and its candidate vehemently dismissed the allegation, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged Buhari to clear the air.

Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, Femi Fani-Kayode, the director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, urged Buhari to tell Nigerians the true state of his health.

“We would prefer that General Buhari himself clears the air and tells Nigerians himself that he is not mortally ill.

“The rumour that he is suffering from prostate cancer is exceptionally worrying and it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to pray for him if this rumour is true,” Fani-Kayode said.

“We are therefore constrained to urge him to prove to Nigerians that he is really as fit as a fiddle by taking a brisk walk,’’ Fani-Kayode said, adding that he could do that by jogging in the stadium before his rallies.

Reacting to the rumours about Buhari’s health, former presidential aspirant and renowned economist, Pat Utomi, described them as sad.

“(It is) sad that Villa is promoting the rumour an opponent may have cancer a fully curable disease in most places except here, a health care indict,” Utomi stated.