Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has kept a low profile since his grand return from sick leave on Saturday.
Buhari
disembarked his plane in Abuja on Saturday to a military salute and was
cheered by hundreds of people who lined the streets as his motorcade
drove to the presidential villa.
disembarked his plane in Abuja on Saturday to a military salute and was
cheered by hundreds of people who lined the streets as his motorcade
drove to the presidential villa.
But the
president, known locally as the Lion of Africa, is again working from
home and missing weekly cabinet meetings, as he did during his previous,
two-month, stay in Nigeria between absences for treatment for an
undisclosed ailment in Britain.
president, known locally as the Lion of Africa, is again working from
home and missing weekly cabinet meetings, as he did during his previous,
two-month, stay in Nigeria between absences for treatment for an
undisclosed ailment in Britain.
The refusal to
disclose details of Buhari’s illness has caused speculation about
whether the 74-year-old is well enough to run Africa’s most populous
country and biggest economy.
disclose details of Buhari’s illness has caused speculation about
whether the 74-year-old is well enough to run Africa’s most populous
country and biggest economy.
In a televised
address on Monday, Buhari looked thin but sounded stronger than at his
last broadcast in June. He walked unaided off the plane when he arrived
on Saturday, though at a slow pace, holding rails on either side of him.
address on Monday, Buhari looked thin but sounded stronger than at his
last broadcast in June. He walked unaided off the plane when he arrived
on Saturday, though at a slow pace, holding rails on either side of him.
He had reduced his working day to a few hours
after returning to Nigeria from his first stint of medical leave on
March 10, diplomats and government sources said at the time.
after returning to Nigeria from his first stint of medical leave on
March 10, diplomats and government sources said at the time.
Although
Buhari wrote to lawmakers on Monday to confirm his return from another
three months of medical leave and resumption of duties, Wednesday’s
cabinet meeting was cancelled without explanation.
Buhari wrote to lawmakers on Monday to confirm his return from another
three months of medical leave and resumption of duties, Wednesday’s
cabinet meeting was cancelled without explanation.
“The
president is fine, that’s why he is back,” a presidency spokesman told
Reuters, declining to comment on why Nigeria’s leader was working from
home.
president is fine, that’s why he is back,” a presidency spokesman told
Reuters, declining to comment on why Nigeria’s leader was working from
home.
Instead of chairing the cabinet meeting,
the first since his return, Buhari received Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, who assumed the leader’s duties during his time away.
the first since his return, Buhari received Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, who assumed the leader’s duties during his time away.
Osinbajo
presented the findings of corruption investigations into two of
Buhari’s top officials: Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Babachir Lawal, Nigeria’s most senior civil servant, and
Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ayo Oke.
presented the findings of corruption investigations into two of
Buhari’s top officials: Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Babachir Lawal, Nigeria’s most senior civil servant, and
Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ayo Oke.
“The President has to look at the report, study it and then make his own decisions based on that report,” Osinbajo said.
Buhari has positioned himself as an anti-corruption
crusader since his election in 2015, but in the more than two years
since his inauguration, his administration has yet to dismiss, let alone
convict, any major figures for graft.
crusader since his election in 2015, but in the more than two years
since his inauguration, his administration has yet to dismiss, let alone
convict, any major figures for graft.
On Tuesday, the heads of the armed forces briefed Buhari on security updates, the chief of defence said.
In
his speech on Monday, Buhari raised concerns about an increase in
attacks by Boko Haram in the northeast,
ethnically-fuelled clashes through the interior and calls to violence
over separatism in the southeast.(Reuters)
his speech on Monday, Buhari raised concerns about an increase in
attacks by Boko Haram in the northeast,
ethnically-fuelled clashes through the interior and calls to violence
over separatism in the southeast.(Reuters)
Source: The Precision
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