Buhari’s return heightens optimism

AFTER about 105 days in the United Kingdom on medical vacation, President Muhammadu Buhari landed at about 4.35pm at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday.

He was met on arrival by a welcome party led by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo accompanied by state governors including Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Nyesom Wike (Rivers, Umar Ganduje (Kano); Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); ministers, service chiefs and other top government officials.

Though frail, Buhari received a welcome salute from a detachment of the Brigade of Guards before shaking the hands of officials who had gathered in front of his aircraft.

Presidency officials ensured that all those that were to shake the president had sanitizer administered to the hands to maintain utmost hygiene.

Rather than inspect a guard of honor arranged by Brigade of Guards, he simply walked to the reception of the Presidential Wing to greet tens of officials that had waited for for hours for him in the hall.

He thereafter boarded his official car and was driven off to end the short airport ceremony.

The traditional dance troupe that had come from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) did not have the time to perform for him.

Speaking shortly the president touched down, state governors were optimistic that the return of the president would make things to move quicker in the country.

They agreed that even though Acting President Osinbajo has been very up to task in discharging his presidential duties, it could not be compared to when the President himself is in charge.

According to Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari, Buhari’s absence for Nigeria was like a body without a head.

He said the president’s return would make immediate impact on the country. Abdulaziz stated: “This is the moment that Nigerians have been waiting for over 90 days. We, as governors that paid him a visit, what we saw the first time, we reported to Nigerians, Nigerians will see for themselves.

“We pray to God to give the President good health and for him to continue to manage the economy.

“It will impact seriously because it is just like a body. When the head is cut off, so the body will not make any meaningful achievement.

“The fact that he has a vibrant Vice President who can work effectively when he is not around does not mean.

“You can compare the difference between when he is around and when the two of them are around.

“It will impact on the economy and it will impact on the security. It means so many things will change.”

Also speaking, his Kano State counterpart, Umar Gnaduje, maintained that the president’s return would impact on security and socio-economic situation of the country.

He said, working together with the Vice President, things would move faster in the country as Osinbajo would no longer need to wait to communicate certain decisions.

Ganduje added: “Nigerians are happy and we are happy. We did say when we visited that he was doing better and will soon return.

“It will impact on the socio-economic activities in the country because now that the number one decision maker is now around.

“He and his deputy will take decision together and things will be done in a quicker way. We will see improvement.”

On the effect on the security, the governor argued: “It will impact on security there is no doubt about that because there are certain decisions you know the Acting President will have to communicate him.

“But now that he is coming back that would no longer be necessary.”

People lined some areas along the airport road hoping to catch a glimpse of the retuning president.

Bus loads of people also gathered around the entrance to the Presidential Wing of the airport to welcome him back.

The president was taken in a motorcade to the presidential villa, Abuja.

He left Abuja for the United Kingdom on May 7, 2017 for what the Presidency announced then was a medical vacation for an undisclosed ailment.

Before that he had on 19 January 19, 2017 left for UK for a similar medical vacation.

On February 5, 2015, he requested that National Assembly to extend the medical leave and later returned to Nigeria on March 10, 2017 but was unable to resume work immediately.

On April 26, 2017, he missed meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the second time as Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, explained that he was working from home.

But on April 28, 2017, Buhari missed his usual Friday prayers at the presidential villa mosque and thereafter on May 3, 2017, failed to show up at FEC for the third time.

On May 5, 2017, he attended Friday prayers but traveled on May 7, 2017 after playing host to newly released Chibok School girls.

Buhari’s wife, Aisha, who had gone to London to be with the husband was conspicuously absent at the airport as she did not travel on the presidential aircraft 001 with the president.