Buhari’s return date a non-issue Gov Emmanuel

GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State who was one of the two opposition governors to visit ailing President Muhammadu Buhari in London this week, has asserted that the president’s return date to the country should not be an issue at this time.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in his office on Friday, he said what was most paramount was to continue to pray for the president and to thank God that he has been healed.

Asked to project when Buhari could return given his observation during the visit, the governor said: “I’m not a medical doctor. Let me say something here, even when you have a biological father you love your father, you take interest in his well-being.

“I mean as a father to the nation, in my personal opinion, I don’t think that is the issue now.

“The issue is that we should thank God that God has answered our prayers. That is where I am coming from.

“And let me also say, some of us behave as if the president, the governors are superhuman. We are normal human beings, we also have challenges.

“So, let us not think that because we are governors or president we are superhuman. No. We are not gods. We are mere mortals like any of us here.

“So, that should also make us play down on the way we look at certain issues.”

Emmanuel appreciated Nigerians for their prayers and good wishes for the president, assuring them that God has answered their prayers.

He noted that the pictures released after the governor’s visit to Buhari in the United Kingdom were accurate reflection of the president’s physical state, noting that the governors were excited to see him well.

Emmanuel added: “Let me thank God for the life of the president and thank God for Nigerians too. And also appreciate Nigerians who have prayed sincerely and earnestly for Mr President and I think God has actually answered the prayers of Nigerians.

“From what you could see from the photographs you could see that God has actually answered our prayers.

“So, some of us were quite excited to see Mr President welcomed us, discussed with us and he was also happy to see us.

“So, what you are seeing both on TV and newspapers are genuine and correct.

“God has actually healed our president and we thank God for that.”

On what he discussed with the president during the visit, he said he could not go into that but admonished that people should see Buhari as a mere mortal who could fall sick like everybody else.

The governor stated: “I don’t think when you hold meeting even with your wife and children you will come and make that public.

“The president is father of the nation and we represent the sub unit of this nation and so it is not everything we discuss in private that should be said in public.

“It was a closed door meeting but be ready assured whatever the president will discuss with the governors will be in the best interest of all the citizens of this country.”