•Notifies National Assembly of resumption, meets Osinbajo, Al-Makura •Atiku, Kalu, Fani-Kayode, others react to
president’s broadcast •Supporters ground Ekiti with rally
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Romanus Ugwu, Abuja, Bimbo Oyesola, Lagos, Petrus Obi, Enugu, Wole Balogun, Ekiti and Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Expectations of Nigeria
that President Muhammadu Buhari would resume work in his office, 48
hours after he returned from a 104-day medical trip in London, was
dashed, yesterday, as he distanced himself from his office.
But a top Presidency source told State
House Correspondents that Buhari was “hale and hearty”, and only elected
to work from home because his office was being renovated.
Bashir Ahmad, the president’s special
assistant on new media, confirmed this on his twitter handle
@BashirAhmaad, in reaction to speculations that the president was
working from home as a result of ill health.
“Some renovations are ongoing at the
office. His fully equipped office in his residence. He’ll be back to the
main office after the works,” he twitted.
However, the president met behind closed
door with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Tanko Al-Makura of
Nasarawa State in his residence.
He received briefings from Osinbajo on
what had transpired while he was away on medical consultations with his
doctors in London.
Earlier, Senior Special Assistant
Legislative Matters (House of Representatives), Suleiman Kawo had at
about 1:35pm emerged from the president’s residence with two letters
meant for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of
Representatives notifying the legislature of his return to office.
Saraki who is current away in Europe confirmed receipt of the letter on
his facebook page.
Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari,
also took to her Twitter handle @aishambuhari and Facebook page to
thank Nigerians for their prayers for her husband.
“As we welcome our dear President back
home, I am grateful to Nigerians and well-wishers all over the world for
their continuous prayers and support. May God continue to guide,
protect and bless us all and our dear country Nigeria,” she wrote
More reactions from statesmen including
former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as well as
organisations and political parties have continued to trail the
president’s return and his nationwide broadcast in which he restated his
commitment to the sanctity of Nigeria’s unity.
The Waziri Adamawa said Buhari’s return would end the needless conspiracy theories by some Nigerians.
In a statement issued by his Media
Office, Abubakar said every well-meaning Nigerian should be happy with
the recovery of the President because a healthy and stronger president
would be able to concentrate more vigorously on the task of implementing
his campaign promises to Nigerians.
“It would reduce the needless conspiracy theories surrounding his health and long absence,” h said.
He advised Nigerians to help the
president succeed, “by focusing on issues that unite us rather than
those that divide us, and thereby distracting the President from
attending to the tasks at hand.”
He also warned politicians against the
promotion of hate politics for selfish advantages, noting that, “a
situation where Nigerians perceive one another as enemies rather than
brothers who should be united by their common interests is unhealthy and
inimical to our democracy.”
In his reaction, Dr. Kalu, former
governor of Abia State, also commended Buhari for his reassuring speech
to the nation in which he promised more decisive action to stem the tide
of national drift.
In a statement signed by his Special
Assistant, Peter Eze, Kalu, who also thanked God for the president’s
recovery and return, lauded Buhari for his assurance that every Nigerian
has right to live and do business in any part of the country they
decide to reside in.
While promising to do his best to ensure
that Buhari’s vision for a more peaceful and united Nigeria was
realised, Kalu said the president deserved the support of every Nigerian
to rebuild a nation fragmented by distrust and suspicion. He prayed for
continued good health for him and also urged all youths to eschew
violence and the call for separation.
“I thank God that President Buhari is
back and in good health. He has recovered tremendously and I can see
that Nigerians are happy for him and his family.
“We all have listened to his address and
we saw the emphasis he has made on how to properly channel our
grievances. He himself admits that there are genuine grievances and also
points out the proper channels to seek redress.
“In my previous statement, I also
emphasised the need to properly channel our misgivings using
constitutionally approved means. That’s how to grow our democracy and
build our country. Resort to violence and negative propaganda will not
do us any good.
“So, while I commend Mr. President on his
recovery and return to the country, I also urge all dissenting voices
in our country to make use of available democratic institutions to seek
redress. That’s how to show that we are matured and responsible.
“At least, we now know that President
Buhari is not in support of any divisive group and no group, either in
the north or the South, which has sought to create problems, has his
support. I therefore, call on our youths to restrain themselves and help
the President to build a better country for all of is,” Kalu stated.
The APC lauded Buhari for specifically reading the riot act to those clamouring for the break up of the country.
National Chairman of the party, Chief
John Odigie-Oyegun who spoke in Abuja said he was equally impressed with
the assurance that anybody could live and work in any part of the
country.