The exact
date of President Muhammadu Buhari’s return to the country is still a top
secret of the presidency. This is just as the wife of the President, Aisha
Buhari at the
weekend travelled to London where her husband is said to be
recuperating.
It was
learnt that Mrs. Buhari left for the UK on Sunday and there exists a likelihood
of her returning to Nigeria with her husband at a time yet to be officially
confirmed.
The
president’s wife returned from London last Thursday and proceeded to Owerri,
where she attended the 2017 August meeting hosted by women in the state.
However, there is nothing on ground to indicate that the president is being
expected in Abuja.
Hitherto,
the president’s return after being away was usually heralded with preparations
with workers of construction giant, Julius Berger cleaning the forecourt in the
villa as well as putting other aesthetic touches on the building housing the
president’s office.
This time,
President Buhari’s long absence has continued to fuel widespread speculations
that he is critically ill and indeed on life support, a claim the presidency
has consistently denied even as it has failed to provide a definitive time
frame for the President’s treatment abroad, saying instead that the length of
his stay would be determined by his London doctors.
President
Buhari left the shores of Nigeria on Sunday, May 7, on a medical follow-up for
an undisclosed ailment at the behest of his doctors in London.Since then, the
media have been inundated with speculations over his likely return date, with
his media handlers battling to debunk the many news items that daily flood the
social media.
Recently,
seven selected governors went to visit the president in London and advised him
not to return in a hurry, but to take care of his health pending when his
doctors give him the green light.
Meanwhile,
there were protests yesterday in Abuja calling for the resignation of
Buhari.But speaking with State House correspondents yesterday, Senior Special
Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari has not
breached any law of the country and would not resign on account of his
ill-health.
He pointed
out that President Buhari has complied 100 per cent with the requirements of
the constitution by handing over to the vice president who, he said, had been
carrying out the affairs of governance without let or hindrance.
“On the
issue of whether the president should resign or disclose or whatever, I think
they are stepping outside the laws of this country.’’On the protest staged by
some Nigerians over the issue in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman said they were
exercising their rights as allowed in a democracy.
“They are
exercising their rights in line with the constitution of this country. Of what
use or value is a democracy in which citizens cannot embark on peaceful
protests? So we respect their right to convene or undertake a peaceful
protest,” he said.
However,
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, yesterday advised
President Buhari to resign honourably.Odumakin who spoke with The Guardian
noted that the president could not continue to hold the people to ransom
considering the state of the nation.
He stated
that the president had not committed any offence due to his absence based on
the 1999 constitution.He said: “Based on the 1999 constitution that we are
subjected to now, the president has not violated the constitution but based on
national interest, he cannot continue to hold the nation to ransom this way, he
has to take a decision either to resign honourably or resume.”
While the
recovery and return of President Buhari are being awaited, his supporters under
the aegis of Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) yesterday inaugurated the
south-west office of the group and appointed coordinators for the six states in
the region. The group is working to reposition the ailing President for contest
in 2019.
The National
Coordinator of the organisation Alhaji Danladi Pasalli, acknowledged the role
of the south-west in BCO. “ We all know that the birthplace of this
organisation is here, it is nursed and brought up here so what we are seeing
today is part of your legacy that has been set for the nation in support of our
president whose pious mind is to reshape Nigerians … so that future of our next
generation is guaranteed.’’
On the
health of the president, Passali said: “The tremendous recovery of our dear
president Muhammadu Buhari must be celebrated by giving glory to God and his
subsequent coming back soon by the grace of God.’’
He said part
of the agenda of BCO is to assist peasant farmers to register so that they
could get direct loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other farming
input.
According to
a patron of the organisation, Alhaji Ahmed Ajibade, even if Buhari is not able
to campaign, the organisation would work to ensure his victory.He maintained
that Buhari stands for honesty, simplicity and he is straightforward and
capable of transforming the country.The southwest coordinator of BCO Mr. Tunji
Adeniji said, “The state offices will be inaugurated at the appropriate time.”
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