Buhari returns to wild jubilations

There were mass jubilations in some parts of the country yesterday following the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his 100-day long medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

The presidential jet touched down yesterday at exactly 4:35 pm with excited government officials on hand at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport to welcome the president.

President Buhari, who was decked in a black kaftan and a matching cap, arrived in the company of his uncle, Mamman Daura, the State House Chief of Protocols, Lawal Kazaure, and others.

Buhari was received by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, state governors, including those of Zamfara, Rivers, Imo, Kano and Bauchi States.

Also on hand to welcome the president were the National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Defence Minister Mansur Dan Ali, Information Minister Lai Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mohammed Bello and service chiefs.

However, the president’s wife, Aisha, who has been in London since August 6 to visit the president, was not sighted with him on his return yesterday.

The director of media in the Office of the Wife of the President, Mr Suleiman Haruna, told our reporter on phone that it was yesterday that he was informed that Mrs Buhari would not arrive with her husband.

Haruna, however, said he did not have any information on why Mrs Buhari did not arrive with her husband and said he did not know when she would return from London.

Shortly after his arrival, President Buhari shook hands with government officials and later inspected a guard of honour mounted by officers and personnel of the Brigade of Guards.

Buhari was also briefly hosted to a traditional performance by some Fulani and Gbagyi girls before he was driven to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

President Buhari did not speak to journalists, but waved at the crowd that had gathered at the airport to witness his return.

Hundreds of youths also stormed the airport to give the president a rousing welcome, chanting “Sai Baba”.

Hundreds of others lined the streets, chanting and waving as the presidential motorcade made its way from the airport to Aso Rock.

Many supporters of the president pulled dangerous car and motorcycle stunts on the streets, weaving from side to side, with supporters hanging out of the car windows, chanting “Baba Oyoyo” in celebrations that were reminiscent of Buhari’s victory at the 2015 polls.

Thousands of Nigerians from several states had thronged the Airport Road and the airport environs to welcome the president.

The visibly excited Nigerians were sighted at Lugbe, Gosa and around the airport, carrying placards and chanting welcome songs to the president.

Some of the placards read: “Welcome back Baba,” “One good term deserves another,” “Welcome our President,” “Mr. President, you are welcome back,” “Sai Baba Buhari. Nigeria said Baba,” “Baba Oyoyo,” “4+4 equals to 8,” among several others.

The Buhari Campaign Organisation’s banner sign welcoming the president also said “Thanks to the visionary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari as insurgency is defeated; corruption is no longer a way of life.”

Delegations from Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kano, Bauchi, among other states were seen among the crowds. Also sighted were women groups.

Speaking to our correspondent, Hajiya Halimat Mohammed, aka, Oyataba, from Adavi in Kogi State, said: “I am so happy, especially because God Almighty has put his (Buhari’s) enemies to shame. God will give him strength and he will lead this nation for eight straight years by God’s grace. I am excited and overwhelmed. We Kogi women are for President Buhari.”

Also, Comrade Murtala Mohammed, the president of National Youth Council of Nigeria, said Nigerian youths under his leadership supported Buhari’s style of leadership. “The only time we the youth will fight Mr. President is when he tells us he won’t be contesting for a second term. But we are behind him and calling on him to contest again”, he said.

The president, however, returned at a crucial time when national unity is at one of its lowest ebbs in the country’s history despite Acting President Osinbajo’s efforts to steady the ship in Buhari’s absence.

There have been protests, both in Nigeria and London, over the president’s long absence and the secrecy with which his health crisis has been handled.

The chairman of the All Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, acknowledged the weight of expectation accompanying the president’s return in view of the state of the nation.

“It is good news for Nigerians and for everyone here (at the airport) for the president to arrive and resume his duties. This has put paid to the various views being expressed. He has had enough time to ponder on several issues and review them.

“There are so much expectations from Nigerians. They want to know what next and they want to see what next from him,” Okorocha said,

While commending Osinbajo for being so committed and faithful to his boss, Okorocha said, “The impact of the president’s return is that it will rejuvenate the economy, polity. He will do a lot of restructuring and rejigging because Nigerians are expecting a lot from him.”

Already, the Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has suggested that the president’s return has had an immediate impact saying, “The impact of his return is huge. If you look at the stock exchange you will see the impact. Not that Prof. Osinbajo did not do a good job while the president was away, but now that he is returning you will see the impact on the economy.”

In the weeks before the president’s return, various interest groups have organised protests calling for the president to “resume or resign”. There were even protests in London on Friday, a day before Buhari returned.

Addressing State House correspondents, presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, debunked insinuations that Buhari’s return was prompted by Friday’s protest in London.

Adesina said before that protest, he and other government officials had been made aware of the president’s imminent return.

News of the president’s return was broken Saturday morning in a statement by Adesina.

“President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country later today after receiving medical attention in London,” he said in the statement.

The presidential spokesperson also said that Buhari would address the country by 7am on Monday.

“He thanks all Nigerians who have prayed ceaselessly for his recovery and wellbeing since the beginning of the health challenge,” the statement added.

But Information Minister Lai Mohammed said everyone was surprised and glad that the president has returned.

Last week in London, President Buhari did not give any hint of his imminent return saying only that he was longing to return home after spending over a hundred days receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

He added that he was staying back on the directives of his doctors. He, however, did not provide any clue about his homecoming a week after.

Buhari left Nigeria on May 7 for medical treatment in London after handing over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has functioned as Acting President since then.

Soon after his arrival yesterday, President Buhari met briefly with Acting President Osinbajo and service chiefs and heads of other security agencies.

The closed-door meeting was held at the president’s official residence inside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Journalists and other government officials were denied access to the president’s residence while the meeting lasted.

A number of youths who attempted to make their way into the Presidential Villa to welcome the president were also barred by security operatives.