I’m obeying doctors’ orders, says Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that even though his health has greatly improved and wishes to return home, he is waiting for his doctors to determine when exactly he could leave.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina in Abuja on Saturday, Buhari was speaking when his media team led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, visited him at Abuja House, London, on Saturday.

The statement said that there was tremendous improvement in his health and “indeed, he wishes 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.’

With the Minister were the presidential media team Mr Adesina; Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, and Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant on Digital/Online Media.

Also there was Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters.

The statement said when the team expressed delight at the much improved health of the President, he retorted: “I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I’ve now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed.”

On how he felt hearing different conjectures about his health, an amused President Buhari said he followed events at home closely, lauding Nigerian television stations, and the media generally, for keeping him informed.

According to the statement, when told that prayers were going on fervently for him, not only in Nigeria, but all over Africa, and round the world, a delighted President 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.”

The statement added that President Buhari sent appreciation to all Nigerians, expressing hope that he would be with them soon.