President Muhammadu Buhari
yesterday morning arrived the Presidential Villa in Abuja from his medical
vacation in London, and said he had never been so sick in his life. Decked in a
black caftan, he landed at the State House helipad from a presidential
helicopter at 8.42am. Speaking at the First Lady’s Conference Room of the
Presidential Villa where he was later welcomed by top government officials and
security chiefs, he said he received the best treatment in the UK.
“I’m very
conscious of the economy. I have rested as much as humanly possible,” he said.
He did not disclose the nature of his ailment, but hinted that he had a blood
transfusion in London. “I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young
man, including in the military with its ups and downs.
I found out that technology is moving so fast
that if you have a lot of confidence, you had better keep it because you need
it; blood transfusions, going to the laboratories and so on and so forth. But I
am very pleased that we, when I say we, I mean the government and the people
all over are trying to keep up with technology.”
President
Buhari, who said he felt “much better now”, however emphasised that “All I will
need is to do further follow-ups within some weeks.”
President
Buhari asked his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, to continue “to do the work.” He said
he deliberately returned to Nigeria towards the weekend so that his Vice would
continue to work over the weekend, and he would continue to rest.
“I’m pleased
that the vice president enjoyed this break and he has to do much more this time
around. Youth and intellect are squarely behind him, while age and military
experience are behind me.”
Femi
Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity tweeted that a
letter notifying the Senate of the president’s return will be transmitted on
Monday. This signifies that Buhari might resume sometime next week.
Osinbajo had
acted as president from January 19 to March 9 when Buhari was away in the
United Kingdom.
President
Buhari also added: “There is a remarkable difference between what happened now
and what happened last year.
When it was
getting to Christmas, I told the vice president, I know he has got a church
therefore he has to go home. I said OK, let us do it turn by turn; you go for
Christmas and the New Year and when you come back, I will go. He said yes.
I suspected he didn’t go home. When he came
back, I said OK it will be my turn in some months. This time around, I said
we’d better do the same. I didn’t know he had the same principles, but for me I
feel that I was a little more tired than I probably was in last eighteen
months. Whatever the case, I’m very grateful that Nigerians are appreciative of
what all of us are doing as a group.”
Earlier, Osinbajo confessed that
“going around in borrowed robes”, it had been an interesting and challenging
time for him as acting president.
He thanked Buhari for the confidence
reposed in him by handing over the reins of government to him in the capacity
of acting president, saying the Federal Executive Council members were grateful
to God that the president was back home hale and hearty. “Mr. President, on
behalf of the Federal Executive Council, we welcome you back home.
I must say that personally, this has been a
very interesting few days for me. I think more important is that you
demonstrated the belief in our system which is even more important than
anything else.”
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