Buhari extends stay in London

Posted by admin Latest Politics Friday, June 17th, 2016

Buhari and Tinubu in London on Thursday. Photo: Sunday Dare

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari will not return to Nigeria from London, where he is spending his 10-day medical vacation, until Sunday.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday shortly before the commencement of a meeting of the National Economic Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari’s 10-day vacation expired on Wednesday.

By the time he would be arriving in Nigeria on Sunday, he would have spent 14 days.

He was earlier scheduled to arrive the country on Thursday.

Osinbajo, however, said it was just appropriate for Buhari to take the weekend off and rest very well in London before returning to the country.

He said he had spoken to the President on the telephone and he was in good health condition.

The Vice-President said Buhari would resume in his office on Monday morning.

Osinbajo said, “The President will be back on Sunday. I spoke with him yesterday evening and I think it is just the best that he takes the weekend off. He will certainly be back on Sunday.

“I think the most straightforward thing is when he will be back. He will be back on Sunday. There is no point rushing back on Friday or something like that.

“He will just take the weekend off and be back on Sunday. He is in perfect health and ready to resume work on Monday morning.

“Mr. President is in good condition, he is fine, he is very well. He should take a day or two off in London and rest a bit and come back hale and hearty on Sunday and be ready for work on Monday. So we expect him back on Sunday.”

The President had so far embarked on vacation two times this year.

He had earlier embarked on a a six-day vacation between February 5 and 10.

Like the case of the second vacation, he remained in London throughout the first vacation.

He had earlier granted an interview where he said the doctors he had been consulting since the 1970s were based in London.

Buhari had before leaving the country written to the National Assembly to intimate the federal lawmakers of his vacation.

He had indicated in the letter that Osinbajo would be performing the duties of the President while he would be away.

-Punch

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