How Passage of Budget, Cabinet Reshuffle Delayed Buhari’s Trip

His desire to reshuffle the cabinet and sign the 2017 budget into law were some of the major reasons President Muhammadu Buhari might have delayed his trip to the United Kingdom for a medical follow-up on an undisclosed ailment, THISDAY has learnt.

A presidency source told THISDAY yesterday that the president knew his trip to the UK to cater to his health was long overdue, but was determined to resolve these two critical matters on his table before leaving.

This much the president was said to have mentioned at a meeting with the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, shortly before departing on Sunday night.

However, when pressure was brought to bear for him to return to the UK for the medical followup, he eventually succumbed and left the country.

“Two things he was said to have mentioned at the meeting he held last with those people at the Villa, because they had also asked him why he refused to go for his checkup, was that he wanted to reconstitute his cabinet in order to give it more life, as this he reckoned was very overdue.

“Two, he wanted to sign the 2017 budget before leaving since a lot depends on it.

“But they assured him all would be well even while he is away. In fact, they informed him that they wouldn’t mind taking the budget to him to sign in London and whenever he gets back, he can reshuffle his cabinet.

“But for now, they told him he had to travel to take care of himself. He was looking tired and needed rest and a checkup,” the source revealed.

He added that contrary to the perception that Buhari had not been working before he left the country, the president had learnt to pace himself by attending to important memos and matters of state at the Presidential Villa, while at the same time taking time off when the need arose.

“It was shocking to know that the president was working as hard as he was when healthier and they told him if he continued at that rate, there was no betting that he would not suffer a breakdown, so his decision to travel eventually was timely,” the source said.

Some well-meaning Nigerians like Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) had enjoined the president to return to London for his medical follow-up, when it became evident that he had lost considerable weight and appeared to be very weak the few times he was seen at the Villa.

Last month, he missed three cabinet meetings and only managed to attend some Friday Juma’at prayers at the State House.

Concerns over his health became more pronounced when he missed the wedding ceremony of his grandson and personal assistant, Sabiu “Tunde” Yusuf, a man named after his late deputy, Tunde Idiagbon, when they both seized power as military leaders over 30 years ago.