One of the state governors who was among the delegation that recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Abuja House in London has dismissed hopes of the president’s immediate return.
The governor whose identity was not revealed, told This Day on Monday, July 31 that President Buhari needed to stay back and be fit enough before returning to the country.
The source said this was to prevent a recurrence of what happened in March 2017 when Buhari returned from his medical trip abroad but was unable to resume duties and appear at public functions for weeks.
The governor said: “The truth is that the president is in a very fit state of mind. His sense of humour is back and the rate of recollection is encouraging with a very keen presence of mind. But I think the reason he has been asked to stay behind is to observe sufficient rest to be able to regain some more physical strength, away from his present gaunt look.
“You know, the problem is that the last time he was home, he barely attended public functions, including the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as well as the Friday Ju’mat service, which he had been attending before he stopped showing presence. That created a lot of controversy as members of the public were genuinely worried.
“If you see him now, although he is still very lean and gaunt but sharp and smart, I mean, for his age. However, if he comes back now, he might still be staying back in the house and avoiding public functions. That again will elicit anxiety amongst the Nigerian people, so, he would take sufficient rest and return when he is certified fit to go home by his doctors.”
The governor stated that he had been worried by unconfirmed reports on the health of the president which claimed that he had begun to suffer memory loss and was difficult to communicate with.
The source added that he had feared that some people could seize power on Buhari’s behalf if there was an iota of truth in such reports.
He however noted that such worries were dispelled after he met with the president in London as the president established old discussions with him and recalled everything to his surprise.
The source reiterated that the president was well and fit, but noted that he was not coming anytime soon as some people were saying.
He also described reports that president had been on life support and about to die as
