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President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country early Friday morning, but he wants Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to continue to act

|  By Olu Ojewale  |  Mar 20, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT  |

AFTER 51 days of medical vacation in London, United Kingdom, President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria on Friday, March 10. But shortly after speaking to his staff and his deputy, Buhari allegedly told Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to carry on as acting president as he would like to continue his medical rest.

In fact, Buhari told his audience that he decided to return to the country today so that he could continue his rest over the weekend. He, therefore, asked those who planned to send a delegation to come and welcome him to stay back and continue to pray for the country.

Talking about his illness, Buhari said: “I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including in the military with its ups and downs.”

Nevertheless, in his address to the country from the State House, shortly after returning from London, Buhari said he was fully committed to serving the nation and protecting the right of all Nigerians. He said: ‘‘I am deeply grateful to all Nigerians, Muslims and Christians alike who have prayed and have continued to pray for my good health.

“This is a testimony that in spite of the hardship being experienced, Nigerians support the government in its effort to tackle our country’s challenges.’’

Besides, he informed that his health had improved significantly, following the medical attention he received during his vacation in London. “The best way for me to repay you is to rededicate myself to serving you, protecting your interest and keeping your trust. I thank you very much. I am feeling much better now. There may, however, be need for further follow up within some weeks,’’ he stated.

Osinbajo, who probably thought it was time relinquish the burden of the presidential seat to his boss must have felt a bit disappointed as he was asked to carry on. Nevertheless, the acting president did not fail to give the president a glimpse of what he has gone through as acting as president.

The vice president, who spoke at the First Lady’s Wing of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, at a 30-minute reception for Buhari, thanked his boss for the confidence reposed in him by handing over the challenges of government to him as acting president.

Osinbajo said members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, were grateful to God that the president was back home hale and hearty.

He said: “We are very grateful to God that you are back home hale and hearty. Mr. President, I must say that personally, this has been a very interesting few days for me…  I think more importantly is that you demonstrated the belief in our system which is even more important than anything else…

“For me, I must say that it has been an interesting period going around the nation maybe because the roads are bad. I must say I had a very interesting and challenging time; but above all, the president gave us the good support.”

Osinbajo has been acting as president since January 19, when Buhari left for London on a 10-day medical vacation.

Apart from government officials, the welcome party in the Presidential Villa also provided the opportunity for Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, to welcome her husband back home amid cheers from families and well-wishers, who joined her to welcome him. Aisha. Buhari, who received the president at about 9 a.m. at the official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, thanked Nigerians for their support and prayer for the president.

The wife of the president was joined by Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the vice-president, wives of state governors, ministers, family members and her close associates.

Similarly, Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of the civil service of the federation, expressed her happiness for the successful return of the president and urged Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders to enable them deliver good governance to the people.

At press time, it remained unclear how long the president would like to rest before taking over power from Osinbajo and when he would like to return to London for further medical checks and treatment which if not treated carefully may cause another round of speculations in many quarters.

In any case, the presidential jet, which brought back the president from London landed at exactly 7:40 a.m. at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.

Buhari, dressed in a black caftan with a black cap to match, was received by Kaduna State officials led by Barnabas Yusuf Bala, deputy governor, amidst tight security.

An excited Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, said on his Facebook account:

“The President is back. He has landed safely in Kaduna, and received by acting Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala and senior KDSG officials. The government and people of Kaduna State are proud to receive our First Citizen back to his home to face the task of rebuilding Nigeria. Alhamdulillah. Jumaat Mubarak to everyone.”

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, alerted the nation on Thursday, March 9, that Buhari would b arriving on Friday, March 10.

Buhari left the country on January 19, 2017, for a vacation, during which he received medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment for more than 50 days.

A day to the expiration of the time promised, he wrote a letter to the National Assembly asking for indefinite time to attend to medical issues as suggested by his doctors.

The uncertainty surrounding the president’s health had fuelled rumours of his death in some sections of the media. There was also speculation that the president could remain in the UK for four months due to medical complication although Bukola Saraki, the Senate president, led a three-man delegation of himself, Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the House Representatives and Ahmed Lawani, Senate leader, to meet Buhari in London.

After the meeting, Saraki told Nigerians the president was hale and hearty and in his usual high spirit.

Apart from the delegation led by Saraki, the president also received high-profile visitors at the Nigeria House in London, including Bola Tinubu, national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and Bisi Akande, former interim national chairman of the party.

Other high profile visitors included Aisha, his wife, who visited him and told Nigerians that he was hale and hearty as well as Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, who showed pictures of him and president at dinner table.

Before his eventual return home on Friday, March 10, the last visitor Buhari hosted in London was Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, who visited on Thursday, March 9.

Whatever, a lot of Nigerians are happy that the president has returned home. In fact, reports from Jos, Plateau State indicated that there was jubilation in the capital city when news of the return of Buhari filtered in.

Youths in the city took to the streets dancing and cracking fireworks to celebrate the return of the president. There were also reports of reckless driving by youths and tricycle operators also known as Keke-napep around major streets of Bauchi road, Murtala Muhammed Way and the terminus as people expressed their joy.

Many other Nigerians have similarly welcomed the president back with diverse opinions. In an interview, Samuel Okezie, a social commentator, said it was good for the president to return home to carry on with anti-corruption war. But Okezie would also like to remind to him to restructure Nigeria and give more power give to the states so as to develop the country faster.

Someone who simply wants to be called Alao, a businessman, wondered why Buhari did not take his time to have enough rest before returning home. “The PMB is definitely not fit by his own admission and not able to work as president. Why the rush back to Nigeria only to go back in a few weeks. This will undermine Osinbajo and who may play into the hands of the cabal in Aso Rock,” he said.

—  Mar 20, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT

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