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By Derrick Bangura
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Friday evening following a two-week medical checkup in London, England.
The President was greeted by top government officials, including his Chief of Staff (CoS), Prof Ibrahim Gambari; FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello; Minister of Water Resources, Engr Sulieman Adamu; Police DIG, Hassan Sanusi; Director General of DSS, Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi; and Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, whose official plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
Speaking on the import of the return of the President, Adesina said the President’s return would be most significant in providing direction to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as it prepares for its National Convention.
On what Nigerians should expect from the President as he returns, the Media Adviser stated that “he will continue what he’s doing. 14 more months and the administration breasts the tape. He’s going to give in his very best so that he lands safe and sound. And now particularly that APC has, or has had issues, and it has it’s convention ahead of him, the President has come at a good time to bring back better cohesion into the party and get the party to hold a successful convention”.
He noted that the President returned to the country two days short of the earlier planned two weeks is an indication that he is in top form, health wise and ready to continue with his duties.
“All is well, that ends well. He said he was going and he will be away for 14 days, today is the 12th day. So the fact that he came about 48 hours earlier shows that all is well with him physically, spiritually, and we’re glad to have him back” Adesina said.
President Buhari had in the course of his medical vacation in London on Wednesday intervened in the internal crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) saying Mai Mala Buni remains the interim national chairman of the party.
In a two-page letter dated March 16, 2022 personally signed by him, addressed to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, President Buhari intervened in the uncertainties currently rocking the APC.
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According to him the, the multiplicity of cases currently rocking the party has the prospect of invalidating the activities and actions of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the letter which was also copied to the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC), the Acting Chairman of the CECC, Governor Sani Bello, the Director General of the DSS as well as the Inspector General of Police, the President said since the party could not change the leadership of the CECC without infringing on the time limit set by INEC, and the fact that the current uncertainties and controversies “pose a real threat to the party,” he has therefore directed that the issue of the leadership of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECC) should immediately return to status quo ante.
He also asked all members of the Governors Forum and their followers to desist from any behaviour or utterance that will likely lead to disunity in the ranks of the party, and ultimately jeorpadise the transition to the convention.
According to him: “The Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee should accordingly be allowed to proceed with all necessary preparations to hold the convention as planned- unfailingly on 26th March, 2022.”
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday, March 6, 2022 departed Abuja for London, the United Kingdom Kingdom for routine medical check up.
The President’s official plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, took off from the Presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
President Buhari was seen off at the airport by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor; service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, among other top government officials.
The President, who returned from Nairobi, Kenya on Friday, March 4, 2022, after attending a three-day international summit of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) was away in the UK for less than two weeks.
