President Muhamadu Buhari
has returned to Nigeria, after 51 days on vacation in London, United Kingdom.
PREMIUM
TIMES correspondent in Kaduna said a presidential jet, 5N-FGN, conveying the
president landed at exactly 7:40 a.m. at the Nigerian Air Force Base in the
city.
Mr.
Buhari was dressed in a black caftan with a black cap to march, and was
received by Kaduna officials, amidst tight security.
He
was immediately taken into a waiting helicopter to Abuja.
“Only
select journalists were allowed to take photos and record video of his landing
and take off,” our reporter says.
Femi
Adesina, the special adviser on media and publicity to the president, said Mr.
Buhari’s plane landed in Kaduna well after 7.am today in Kaduna,
debunking earlier reports that the president flew in at about 4.am.
“We
are now at the helipad at the Aso Villa awaiting his arrival from Kaduna. The
flight will take about 40 minutes,” Mr. Adesina said in an interview with the
News Agency of Nigeria.
In
Kaduna, President Buhari was received by Deputy Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala.
An
excited Kaduna governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said on Facebook:
“The
President is back. He has landed safely in Kaduna and received by Acting
Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala and senior KDSG officials. The government and
people of Kaduna State are proud to receive our First Citizen back to his home
to face the task of rebuilding Nigeria. Alhamdulillah. Jumaat Mubarak to
everyone.”
Mr.
Adesina had announced Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari would return to
Nigeria Friday (today).
Mr.
Buhari left Nigeria on 19 January 19 for a vacation in London and was scheduled
to return to work on 6 February.
During
his visit to UK, he also said he would conduct some medical checks.
However,
a day to his resumption, he requested for an extension of his holiday,
following the recommendation of his doctors that he wait for further tests and
rest.
According
to Mr. Adesina, President Buhari expressed appreciation to teeming
Nigerians from across the country, and beyond, who had prayed fervently for
him, and also sent him their good wishes.
While
in London, the president received visitors at his base in the British capital,
and made telephone calls to dignitaries in Nigeria.
There are widespread speculations in Nigeria that he is unwell but the presidency has repeatedly dismissed the insinuations.
UPDATED: Buhari Arrives
Aso Rock, Meets Osinbajo, Others
President
Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Nigeria’s president palace in Abuja after 50 days
on vacation in London.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential chopper carrying the
president from Kaduna landed at about 8.36 a.m.
The
presidential plane that brought him from London earlier landed at the Nigeria
Air Force base Kaduna at about 7.47 a.m.
The
president was received on arrival at the villa by Acting President Yemi
Osinbajo, cabinet ministers, service chiefs and Inspector General of Police
Ibrahim Idris.
Others
included Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and top government functionaries.
The
President also met with members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Mr.
Buhari left the country on Jan. 17 on a 10-day vacation which he said he would
also use to have a medical check-up.
The
leave was later extended, based on a medical advice by his doctors, who said
they needed to carry out further tests on him.
The
president’s jet landed at the VIP Wing of 401 Training School of Nigeria Air
Force, Kaduna, at 7.40 a.m. where he was received by the Deputy Governor of
Kaduna State, Barnabas Bantex.
The
president was later flown by a presidential helicopter to Abuja.
Mr
Femi Adesina, the President’s Senior Special Adviser, Media and Publicity
confirmed on Thursday that the president would return after his 49-day
vacation, which has raised controversies.
The
president left the country on Jan. 19 when he asked for 10 days medical leave
from the Senate.
He
said that in his absence that Osinbajo would act as the president of the
country.
The
president later wrote the Senate for an extension of the leave to enable him to
undergo more medical tests based on the advice of his doctors.
He
did not, however, state the time he would return.
Meanwhile,
some Nigerians have taken to Twitters to welcome President Buhari.
Simon
Wada @simonwada tweeted: “Welcome President Buhari……. Feed him kunu geda, tuwo
and mia kuku…UK food ain’t it for Mr. President apparently.”
An
excited Kaduna governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said on Facebook:
“The
President is back. He has landed safely in Kaduna and received by Acting
Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala and senior KDSG officials. The government and
people of Kaduna State are proud to receive our First Citizen back to his home
to face the task of rebuilding Nigeria. Alhamdulillah. Jumaat Mubarak to
everyone.”
According
to Mr. Adesina, President Buhari expressed appreciation to teeming
Nigerians from across the country, and beyond, who had prayed fervently for
him, and also sent him their good wishes.
While
in London, the president received visitors at his base in the British capital,
and made telephone calls to dignitaries in Nigeria.
There are widespread speculations in Nigeria that he is unwell but the presidency has repeatedly dismissed the insinuations.
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