At last, recuperating Buhari returns from UK today

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By Femi SHODUNKE

NIGERIA: AFTER over 100 days of travelling to United Kingdom on medical vacation, President Muhammadu Buhari will return to the country today (Saturday).

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, who was among the presidential media team who last week paid a visit to Buhari in London, made this known on his Facebook post on Saturday.

Adesina further stated that thereafter the President will address the nation in a live broadcast on Monday, August 21.

“President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country later today, after receiving medical attention in London,” Adesina said a day after the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeboye Adejare, visited the recuperating President in London.

The Special Adviser also said: “The President had left the country on May 7, this year, after handing over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has functioned as Acting President since then.”
“President Buhari is expected to speak to Nigerians in a broadcast by 7 a.m on Monday, August 21, 2017,” Adesina further said, adding: “He thanks all Nigerians who have prayed ceaselessly for his recovery and well-being since the beginning of the health challenge.”

It would be recalled that GatewayMail had reported recently during a visit to him by the Presidential media team that Buhari had indicated his eagerness to return to the country, but only awaiting the directive of his doctors.

“I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I’ve now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed,” the Special Adviser quoted Buhari to have said.

According to him, the President, who said that he was still in London on the advice of his doctors, has recorded tremendous improvement in his health.

Adesina explained that Buhari while receiving the team, led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at Abuja House, London, last Saturday, commended the Nigerian media for keeping him abreast of “different conjectures about his health” at home.

He further stated that Buhari, who was full of jokes during the visit, said he was willing to return home “but I’ve learnt to obey my doctor’s orders, rather than be the one issuing the orders.  Here, the doctor is absolutely in charge.”

The visiting team that presented “Get well soon” card to the ailing Buhari included Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant on Digital/Online Media, and Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters.

Adesina also said that when informed that fervent prayers were being offered for him in Nigeria, Africa and across the globe, Buhari said: “What we did in The Gambia early this year fetched us a lot of goodwill on the African continent.  It gave us a lot of latitude.  I thank all those who are praying. May God reward them.”

“President Buhari sent appreciation to all Nigerians, expressing hope that he would be with them soon,” Adesina said.

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