President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday explained why he cannot return to Nigeria and resume duties even as he felt like doing so; stressing that only his doctors can give him the all-clear to return. The President has been away since May 7, this year on medical vacation.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr . Femi Adesina, said in a statement, that his principal stated this at the Abuja House, London, when he received members of his media team led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Buhari, according to the statement, told the team that visited him that there is tremendous improvement in his health and that he really wished to return home.
“I have learnt to obey my doctor’s orders rather than be the one issuing the orders. Here, the doctor is absolutely in charge,” the President was quoted as saying.
Mohammed led the team that included Adesina; Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; Personal Assistant on Digital/Online Media, Lauretta Onochie; and the Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri- Erewa,
Adesina disclosed that when the team expressed delight at the much improved health of the President, Buhari reportedly said, “I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I have now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed.”
On how he felt hearing reactions to his health, Buhari was reported to have said he followed events at home, as he lauded Nigerian television stations, and the media generally, for keeping him informed.
When told that prayers were fervently going on for him, not only in Nigeria, but all over Africa, and round the world, the President said, “What we did in The Gambia early this year fetched us a lot of goodwill on the African continent. It gave us a lot of latitude. I thank all those who are praying. May God reward them.”
Adesina said that the President sent appreciation to all Nigerians, expressing hope that he would soon be with them.
