President Muhammadu Buhari ’s medical vacation will on Monday ( today) enter its fourth week.
The President has been away from the country for 24 days ( 16 working days ) having left for London , United Kingdom on January 19.
As of the time he was leaving , Buhari had written the National Assembly that he would proceed on a short vacation that would see him undergoing check – ups from January 24 and would resume on February 6 .
He has since transmitted another letter in which he said he had decided to extend the vacation because of the need for “a course of medications and further appointments ” with his doctors .
Throughout the weekend , presidential aides and officials attached to the Protocol Unit of the Presidential Villa , Abuja were put on standby on the President ’s possible return to the country .
Efforts made by agitated State House correspondents for information on the arrangements to receive the President on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport also did not yield any result .
As of the time of filing this report on Sunday evening , it was still not clear when Buhari would return to the country .
His wife , Aisha , had however on Saturday returned from Saudi Arabia where he participated in Lesser Hajj .
Many saw her return to the country as a prelude to the President ’s arrival.
Amidst various speculations on the state of health of the President , his handlers including the Acting President , Yemi Osinbajo , had insisted that he is hale and hearty .
Buhari ’ s letter to the National Assembly , announcing the extension of his vacation had read , “Further to my letter dated 18 th January, 2017 in which I notified the Distinguished Senate of taking part of my annual leave .
“ During my leave , I took the opportunity to have routine check – ups and consult my long standing doctors in London .
“ In the course of the routine examinations , certain test result indicated the need for a course of medications and further appointments have been scheduled for next week.
“ I am therefore notifying the Distinguished Senate that I am extending my leave until the doctors are satisfied that certain factors are ruled out . In the circumstances , the vice -president will continue to act on my behalf .
“ Please accept , Distinguished Senate President , the assurances of my highest consideration .”
Meanwhile , a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Mrs . Farida Waziri , on Sunday expressed concern about the perceived politicisation of the foreign medical trip of President Buhari with a call on Nigerians to cultivate the habit of encouraging their leaders , rather than demonising them.
According to her, the present economic hardship in the country should not lead to some citizens wishing their leaders dead .
“ Speaking positively about our leaders and country will no doubt have a positive impact on our collective image around the world . Agreed, there is much suffering in the land but this should not change us from being the good people that we have always been, by wishing our leaders dead . Let us have a rethink. We can ’ t afford to cut our noses to spite our faces . We must not lose our humanity even in the face of hardship and recession , because it is our collective effort to build this nation ,” the ex -EFCC chairman emphasised .
Waziri , in a statement obtained by The PUNCH in Abuja , said while “great nations adore their leaders , especially the good ones , and do not talk ill of them , Nigerians do not wish their leaders well .”
She said , “ The world over , great nations – whether the US , UK , China , Germany or France and more – they don ’t talk ill of their leaders , instead , they encourage them and build them as exemplary national figures . As the wife of Nigeria ’s Ambassador to Turkey in 2004 – 2008, I arrived at Atatürk Airport Istanbul , my escort informed me proudly that the airport is named after the father of modern Turkey .
“ Downtown Istanbul main street was also adorned with portraits of the man , Atatürk. This , to me, is one clear way to encourage and build our national figures and leaders . Let the good ones serve as good examples of good leadership and the bad ones as such .
“ During an event , there was a general discussion on various leaders from different countries: Ghandi ( India ), Mandela ( South Africa ) Nyerere ( Tanzania ), Kenyatta ( Kenya ) . Now a lady asked me what was the name of the Atatürk of Nigeria and for the first time I realised that Nigerians do not appreciate their leaders but would rather bad -mouth them.
“ I was taken aback by the question and tried to run through my mind the names of our leaders . Now , this is the question : why do we want our leaders dead or spread rumours that they are dead ? … For the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua, it took the wittiness and ingenuity of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to halt the rumour mill by placing a call publicly to the late President . Now our President is on vacation and seizing the opportunity to undergo medical check -up and instead of wishing him well, Nigerians are busy spreading rumour about his death .”
Also , the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu , has said looters were the ones wishing President Buhari dead to escape prosecution .
He stated that Buhari had so far given the country exemplary leadership and cleared the rot left behind by the 16 -year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party , which he said , had damaged the economy of the nation .
Ojudu spoke while hosting leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress from the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State at his residence in Ado Ekiti .
He urged the APC members in Ekiti to be united and continue aggressive mobilisation ahead of the 2018 governorship poll to wrest power from Governor Ayodele Fayose- led PDP in the state .
Ojudu said , “ Our President is honest , patriotic, committed and passionate that this country must be great . Nobody can accuse the President of fraud , corruption and stealing in government .”
