Buhari needs to regain more physical strength - Governor

- One of the state governors who was among the delegation that visited President Buhari in London says the president needed to stay back and be fit enough before returning to the country

- The source states that this was to prevent a recurrence of what happened in March 2017 when Buhari returned from his medical trip abroad but was unable to resume duties

- The governor hints that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo might soon be tasked with carrying out more serious assignments

One of the state governors who was among the delegation that recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Abuja House in London has dismissed hopes of the president’s immediate return.

The governor whose identity was not revealed, told This Day on Monday, July 31 that President Buhari needed to stay back and be fit enough before returning to the country.

READ ALSO: Presidency commends CAN for goodwill message on Buhari's health

The source said this was to prevent a recurrence of what happened in March 2017 when Buhari returned from his medical trip abroad but was unable to resume duties and appear at public functions for weeks.

The governor said: “The truth is that the president is in a very fit state of mind. His sense of humour is back and the rate of recollection is encouraging with a very keen presence of mind. But I think the reason he has been asked to stay behind is to observe sufficient rest to be able to regain some more physical strength, away from his present gaunt look.

“You know, the problem is that the last time he was home, he barely attended public functions, including the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as well as the Friday Ju’mat service, which he had been attending before he stopped showing presence. That created a lot of controversy as members of the public were genuinely worried.

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“If you see him now, although he is still very lean and gaunt but sharp and smart, I mean, for his age. However, if he comes back now, he might still be staying back in the house and avoiding public functions. That again will elicit anxiety amongst the Nigerian people, so, he would take sufficient rest and return when he is certified fit to go home by his doctors.”

The governor stated that he had been worried by unconfirmed reports on the health of the president which claimed that he had begun to suffer memory loss and was difficult to communicate with.

The source added that he had feared that some people could seize power on Buhari’s behalf if there was an iota of truth in such reports.

He however noted that such worries were dispelled after he met with the president in London as the president established old discussions with him and recalled everything to his surprise.

The source reiterated that the president was well and fit, but noted that he was not coming anytime soon as some people were saying.

He also described reports that president had been on life support and about to die as claims made to overheat the polity.

The sources hinted that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo could soon be tasked with carrying out more serious assignments now, albeit on the instructions of the president.

“Just watch out. The acting president will start carrying out some functions of the office of the president to further ease administrative bottlenecks, calm nerves and allay unfounded fears. The truth is that the presidency is one and the same and the ploy by some fifth columnists to create avoidable gulf has already been defeated by the unbreakable chemistry between the president and his deputy. What we have is the Muhammadu Buhari presidency and it is living up to expectations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has stood by his earlier statement that President Muhammdu Buhari was on life support in London.

The governor also called on Buhari to declare his state of health, adding that the president’s health should be an open book for all to read. Fayose made the statement in a video which surfaced online on Monday, July 31.

He said the recent visit by some governors and APC officials to Buhari in London does not negate his earlier statement that Buhari was incapacitated.

In the video below, Legit.ng TV asked some Nigerians what they have to say about Buhari's continued absence from the country.

Source: Legit.ng