Dear Mr. President sir,
When I learned that you will be returning yesterday, I was glad because it means you eventually listened to our cries and yearnings. You have returned at a time when our country needs you most to surmount the crucibles battering us as a people and a nation. Though for a very steep price, we never allowed our voices to go unheard and we are glad you ultimately listened to us.
You have returned at a time when our great country is battling a slew of disastrous storms. This is a difficult time in our national history where insightful and sagacious leadership is greatly required. Now that you are back stronger, I will like you to become the rescuer that our country terribly needs at this trying time.
As you may know, millions of students are currently at home doing nothing because their schooling was suddenly disrupted by the decision of their disgruntled lecturers to go on an indefinite strike. Some of these students are 3 months away from becoming a graduate. This is the time to rekindle their hope before they become a nonentity to themselves and the society.
You must expediently attend to our ever-debilitating education sector, massively increase the budget for education and treat not only the ministers and permanent secretaries but also the lecturers and school heads aright. If the lecturers are well paid and paid as at when due, they will gleefully impart knowledge into our children who will become the leaders of this great nation tomorrow.
Ensuing from my research, no Nigerian university is currently among the top 20 universities in Africa. This is a shame for a country touted as the Giant of Africa.
We must raise the standard of our education sector tremendously. A country with a vibrant education is a country with a bright future. By investing massively in education, we indubitably bolster productivity in our economy and also transformational innovations that would avail our country.
Further to this Mr. President, one of the most pernicious threats beleaguering us today is insecurity of lives and properties. We are constantly being battered and forced to the grim reaper by different monsters in different quarters of the nation. In the north, the Boko Haram sect, Fulani herdsmen, the October 1st Ultimatum and the IPOB agitation still deprecating lives and properties.
The people in other parts of the country are not safe either. Kidnappers are increasing by the day and hoodlums are flooding the streets every day. This is the time to deliver on the mandate the Nigerian people gave to you.
I believe that you will take every necessary step to quickly bring an end to these national threats just as you work assiduously towards exterminating the perennial economic hardship besetting the country.
I wish you long life and sound health Mr. President. Once again, you are welcome.
As President Muhammadu Buhari returns to Nigeria to continue his duties as the nation’s number one citizen, our source takes a quick look at the three major battles that await him.
ASUU strike
The President would for the first time come face-to-face with the ‘hard fist’ of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
Recall that ASUU had last week announced a nationwide strike, over failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement between the two parties.
The academic union anchored its reasons on outstanding issues with the Federal Government to include: payment of fractions/non-payment of salaries; non-payment of earned academic allowances, non-release of operational license of NUPEMCO; non implementation of the provisions of the 2014 pension reform act with respect to retired professors and their salaries, removal of universities staff schools from funding by government and funds for the revitalisation of public universities.
This is the first time the union would be taking such decision since the current administration came on board in 2015.
The last time ASUU downed tools was in 2019 when Goodluck Jonathan was in power.
Though, the President is expected to address the nation via a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, Nigerians expect that he would address the grudges of the lecturers without delay.
Biafra and Other Separatist Groups
While the President was away in London on health ground, the drum for the rebirth of Biafra Republic and other separatist groups became louder.
While Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra had allegedly formed a Biafra Secret Service, BSS, in preparation for its freedom, more groups in South Western part joined the call for the birth of Oduduwa Republic.
Kanu, who has been touring the eastern states, vowed that he was ready to die for the freedom of Igbos from Nigeria.
Buhari is expected to take a lasting decision on the ongoing clamour for the disintegration of the country.
The media war – Fani Kayode, Ayo Fayose and Reno Omokri
The return of Buhari may have opened the flood gate of media diatribes from naysayers, viz: Femi Fani-Kayode, Ayo Fayose and Reno Omokri.
As the President resumes, he is expected to face attack from the trio.
He is expected to find a way to silence their voice or develop thick skin to welcome their verbal bullets.
Source
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi, has described the rate of the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari as a miracle and will return to the country as soon as his doctors certifys him to.
Umahi, who is one of the seven governors that visited the President in London on Wednesday night, told one of our correspondents on the telephone from London, that he and his colleagues were surprised with the level of his (President) recovery.
Apart from Umahi, others governors in the entourage are Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Umar Ganduje (Kano); and Kashim Shettima (Borno).
Six of the governors were chosen based on the six geo-political zones in the country while the governor of Zamfara State was picked because of his position as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.
Umahi, who was one of the two governors from the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, said that it was difficult for members of the opposition to believe what they were being told by the handlers of the President that he was getting better.
He, however, said that he was happy, just like the other six governors, that the President was making progress and that he had improved very well.
The governor said the President would soon return to the country as soon as his doctors certified him alright.
He said, “We met a cheerful President whose level of recovery is a miracle. We know he will soon return home as soon as his doctors certify him to do so. What he’s treating is not mere malaria that we can say he will return today or tomorrow.
“However, we are happy and we thank God for what we saw. It is contrary to the pictures people are painting on the social media. The President we saw is recuperating well and we are happy for that.
“It is even better that, we as members of the opposition party, are among the entourage. Nigerians should continue to pray for the President. “
Asked whether the President told them the likely date of his return, he said no, adding that there was no need to be too expectant, saying that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), was doing a good job.
“We don’t need to panic because we have a hardworking acting President who is doing a fantastic job. All we need to do as Nigerians is to continue to pray for the President,” the governor added.
It was gathered that the governors had lunch with the President before leaving.
The Presidency later released some pictures showing the President in a conversation with the governors.
There was also a group picture showing Buhari standing with the visiting governors after the meeting.
Another picture showed the President with his wife, Aisha, and another unidentified lady on a sofa.
Ajimobi later wrote on his Twitter handle and Facebook page that the President received him and his colleagues warmly.
“My counterparts, the Governor’s Forum delegation and I were warmly received by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in London, United Kingdom,” he wrote.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on June 12, signed the 2017 budget into law. President Muhammadu Buhari should have done the honour. But he’s receiving medical treatment in London.
In a letter addressed to Budget Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma, Buhari said it was in the interest of the nation’s economy for Osinbajo to sign the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law.
President Buhari wrote the letter to Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, according to a statement by Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on the media and publicity, NAN reported.
President Buhari, who is recuperating in London, said he had received a full briefing on the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly.
To buttress the unity at the highest level of government, he said he was yielding his signatory authority to Osinbajo.
Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari will return to the country before June 11.
Kalu said Buhari’s health had improved when he visited him in the UK last week and urged Nigerians to stop spreading messages of hate and division about the President’s health.
Speaking in an interview with reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he said:
“I went to Washington to visit some business partners and from there stopped at London to see Mr President, who is recovering very fast.
“I am excited over the state of health of President Buhari despite the hate messages people were spreading about him. I am disappointed with the statement coming from some Nigerians about the health of Mr President.
“The messages some Nigerians have been spreading in the social media is unhealthy. I am calling on Nigerians to have a change of heart. Being a President, does not mean, you cannot be sick, the hate messages are becoming too much. There must be good sense of tolerance among the ethic groups, we are all one.”
Buhari left Nigeria for London May 7 for further medical check-ups
President Muhammadu Buhari’s health has improved significantly, although only his physicians can determine when he will return to Nigeria and to work, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
“Oh yes; we thank God,” a source in the Nigeria High Commission in London, United Kingdom, told this newspaper when asked if the president’s health had improved substantially.
“He is doing very good; he is ok but his doctors will determine (when he will return).”
The official, who sees Mr. Buhari regularly, asked not to be named because he had no permission to discuss the president’s condition with journalists.
Mr. Buhari left the country for London on May 7 to continue with his medical treatment. He had returned to Nigeria on March 10 after spending 51 days in the British capital during attending to his health.
Upon his return, the president said he
“couldn’t recall being so sick since he was a young man, including in the military with its ups and downs.”
He also said he could not recall ever having blood transfusion before.
The president also hinted that he would return to the UK for further treatment.
“I’m feeling much better now. There may, however, be need for further follow up within some weeks,” Mr. Buhari had said while addressing the country.
However, as soon as he returned to the UK about two weeks ago, there were rumours that he had passed on.
An SMS announcing his death soon went viral. The text read,
“Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been confirmed dead in London where he was receiving medical attention…. The Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom told reporters plans are underway to transport the body of the late President to Abuja where final burial funeral rites will be held…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to be sworn in office as the substantive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Government is yet to issue an official statement on the President’s demise. He was 74 years old.”
Our source expressed sadness that some Nigerians could wish the president dead, saying
“(it is) sad that any human being will wish another dead.”
He continued,
“It’s sad but God is all seeing and will always suffice and to Him we submit all our affairs. They have failed and will continue to fail.”
On the calls for Mr. Buhari’s resignation on the ground of poor health , the source said,
“Well that’s their problem because it is God that gives power and takes it when He so wishes and not anybody else.”
When asked if the president’s health was now better than he left home, our source who sees Mr. Buhari regularly retorted, “Of course, yes.”
He said the president is largely stable and is able to regularly and promptly observe his five-time daily prayers.
When told that those calling for Mr. Buhari’s resignation believed he was too sick to ever govern again, the source said, “That’s the view of those arrogating God’s power to themselves and would surely regret it, Insha Allah.”
Source
Premium Times
The presidential special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, has taken to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to announce that President Muhammadu Buhari will send a letter to the National Assembly next week to formally resume power.
After spending nearly two months away in London on medical leave, the President's spokesman on Friday, said in a tweet that the letter to the lawmakers at the National Assembly will be sent on Monday, adding: “That makes his return to work formal, and constitutional.”
The President who only just returned to Nigeria after about 50 days of medical vacation will do further follow-ups for his medical check-up in London.
Our source reports Buhari who addressed the nation today (Friday) shortly after his arrival from London, said there “may be need to have further follow-ups within some weeks.
He, however, said that he was feeling much better now.
Buhari thanked all Nigerians for their prayers for his quick recovery.
“I am deeply grateful to all Nigerians – Muslims and Christians alike, who have prayed and are continuing to pray for my good health.
“This is a testimony that in spite of the hardship being experienced, Nigerians support the Government in its effort to tackle our country’s challenges.
He said that the best way to repay Nigerians is to re-dedicate myself to serving you, protecting your interests and keeping your trust. I thank you very much.’’
“Rather than sending delegation upon delegation to Abuja to welcome me, may I appeal to all Nigerians to continue to pray for our country’s unity, progress and prosperity.’’
“I thank you very much and may God bless our Country,’’ Buhari said.
President Buhari arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja early today.
Source
NAN
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