NOT a few of President Muhammadu Buhari’s critics must have been shocked when he resumed duties as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Monday. Many who had gone to town with the rumour that he was dead or permanently incapacitated while he was on medical vacation in the United Kingdom surely did not expect him to assume duties so soon.
It was no surprise, therefore, that despite the fact that he returned to the country on Friday last week, some of the doubting Thomases did not believe that he was actually the one they saw on television or that the pictures that went viral on the social media last weekend were his.
However, die hard supporters of the President wasted no time in hitting the streets and rolling out the drums to celebrate his return to the country. Not even the prevailing economic situation in the country could stop them from celebrating Baba’s return.
But not ones that would give up easily, his critics held on to the wrong notion that Buhari would continue to rest at home while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would carry on as the Acting President.
On Monday, however, Buhari resumed duties as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Spotting a cream colour babanriga and cap to match, one of the first assignments he carried out on his oval-shaped office table was to sign a letter intimating the National Assembly of his resumption. That became necessary as no resumption date was mentioned in the letter he had written to seek extension of his vacation in the United Kingdom when it was not possible for him to resume duties on February 6 as contained in the letter he wrote to the National Assembly when he was leaving Nigeria on January 19, 2017.
His Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, was on hand on Monday to speedily convey the letter to the National Assembly.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, also did not waste time in issuing a two-paragraph statement disclosing that his boss had communicated his arrival to the National Assembly and had satisfied all constitutional provisions to resume duties.
Also on Monday, the President received various briefings from top government officials towards updating himself on what had transpired in his absence. He met with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who Buhari gave a few directives on the economy, budget and the North-East after the latter had briefed him on what had transpired in the seven weeks he was away on medical vacation.
The same Monday, Buhari was also briefed in his office by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. On Tuesday, the President received briefings from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on the goings on in the National Assembly during his vacation.
The issues on which Buhari was briefed included the budget, ambassadorial nominees, the Niger Delta, Eurobond, and the issue of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, who was confirmed by the Senate in his absence.
Also on Tuesday, the President signed the instrument of ratification of the treaty on the establishment of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor between the governments of the Republic of Benin, Cote D’ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.
Before closing on Tuesday, the President also received briefing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
On Wednesday, the President presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The cabinet members were excited to have the President back in the saddle.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who prayed in the Muslim way before the session, asked God for more strength and wisdom for the President to continue to steer the ship of the nation. “That at the end of the tenure we will leave a better country behind,” he said.
But a mild drama had occurred before Mohammed was asked to pray. After the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had prayed in the Christian way, the President looked in the direction of the hall where Lai Mohammed normally sits and said: “I haven’t seen Lai.”
The President probably did not notice the minister because he was dressed differently from his usual style. On that particular day, Mohammed, was dressed in black suit instead of the usual agbada.
To the President’s enquiry, the Minister of Information quickly responded: “I’m here sir.”
A highpoint of the duties the President performed on Thursday was the reception of the 36 state governors under the aiges of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The group, which was in Abuja to attend the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President Osinbajo, had to take some time off to meet with the President.
Buhari had to go round the hall to have handshakes with all the governors in attendance. Unlike last week Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday observed the Jumaat prayer in the State House mosque situated close to his office.
Apart from many Muslim staff, including top officials, joining him for the weekly prayer, some visitors from outside the Villa were also there.
The governors who prayed with the President included Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Generally speaking, the President’s wing of the Presidential Villa had not started receiving as many visitors as it used to before he went on medical vacation.
Apart from the President discouraging those who might want to roll out the drums at the Villa to welcome him back from medical vacation, many of the usual business meetings at the President’s office, especially those involving the heads of international organisations, were lacking in his first week.
During the week, no country’s President or leader was also received by President Buhari. All these are expected to pick up in the coming weeks as the President settles down to continue steering the ship of state.
