Reports say all is now set for President Muhammadu Buhari’s return from the United Kingdom as State House staff have been put on standby.
It was gathered that some family members of the president and his wife’s security aides arrived Abuja yesterday.
An aide to the wife of the president hinted that Mrs Aisha Buhari might also return to Nigeria Wednesday.
President Buhari has been in the United Kingdom since May 7 undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Mrs
Buhari’s aide said: “The information just reached me now from the wife
of the president, that everything is set for the return of Mr President
to Nigeria. Already, some of the president’s family members and security
aides of madam (Aisha Buhari) have just returned from London.
“The
wife of the president may either leave London on Wednesday or decide to
come home with the president anytime soon. We have been told to be on
standby because Mr President is returning any time soon this week.”
Some
staff of the State House, including security operatives, also said they
got a directive yesterday, asking them to be on standby for the
president’s return.
The staff, who spoke to our correspondent on
the condition of anonymity, however added that the directive did not
contain any specific date for the president’s return.
“We were
only instructed to be ready for the return of the president at any
moment. No specific date has been mentioned to us,” one of the staff
said.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, had last Tuesday
quoted Buhari to have told the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde that he
was making good progress and that he would return to his duties as soon
as doctors advise.
Yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari received a
goodwill message from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Shehu,
in a statement, quoted the CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, as
describing the news of Buhari’s recovery as “a rejuvenation of hope” and
congratulating Nigerians “on the joy of having their president back
soon.”
Shehu said: “Such messages of goodwill from respected
religious bodies like CAN meant so much at a time, when people with ill
intentions were struggling to divide the country along religious lines.
He also thanked the CAN for its continued prayers for the President’s
health.
“The Presidency looks forward to further collaborations
with CAN to ensure that Nigerians of all ethnic and religious groups
benefit from the policies of the President Buhari administration which
are aimed at improving the welfare of every single citizen of our great
country.”