By Emmanuel Ebimoh
After more than 100 days in London on medical leave, President Mohammadu Buhari landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja yesterday afternoon amidst celebrations and mixed feelings. To many Nigerians, the news of the President’s return came as a surprise considering the rumours and dramas that surrounded his time away in the U.K. Nevertheless, his return has indeed been long awaited. But then, the question that quickly comes to mind is, was President Buhari’s return to Nigeria forced, planned or just another political gimmick.
Over the last couple of months, the Abuja residence in London has been entertaining national dignitaries who go to pay their sympathy to the President and wish him quick recovery. Despite still photos of the President looking hale and hearty that circulated the internet after these popular visits, many Nigerians were not satisfied. They wanted more – to hear the President speak in a video or come back home. Different protests for and against the President were seen here and there. Nigerians at home asked questions; those in the diaspora got impatient. The pressure appeared to increase daily.
Recall that during the week of his return, precisely on Wednesday 16th August, the “ResumeOrResign” anti-President Muhammadu Buhari protesters led by Charles Oputa popularly known as Charly boy and Deji Adeyanju, issued a warning in a statement giving the president a 21-day ultimatum to resume back to office or resign completely. They vowed to approach the law court to seek an order of mandamus compelling the Federal Executive Council, FEC to set up a committee that will investigate his health status if he failed to meet the deadline for return.
Two days later, in a photo that circulated the internet on Friday, 18th August, Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God was seen with the President at his Abuja residence in London. Then just a day after the pastor’s visit, news filtered that the President would be back in the country.
Could these turn of events have been the stimulus that spurred the President back to his presidential aircraft to Nigeria? Or was the date for his return already premeditated?
According to the Constitution, the President is entitled to an annual leave of 60 days. If after the expiration of this period he doesn’t return to office or is incapable to continue as President due to illness, the National Assembly has the right to declare his seat vacant so that the Vice President will step into the position of the President. However, the President did not disclose to Nigerians in his letter to the Senate that he was going on an annual leave; he only confirmed it to be an indefinite medical leave which extended to 103 days.
Again, one is tempted to ask, is the President’s sudden return another political gimmick to still the minds of Nigerians against any further constitutional action, or is the President really fit to continue the job as Nigeria’s number one citizen? Whatever the questions might be, we’re just glad that the President has returned and we hope he brings the hope of change he promised Nigerians about two years ago.
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