President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday talk that he has not been very sick like this before.
He say that this when he was having meeting with the government officials, he said; “I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including in the military with its ups and downs,” He also said he do not remember when he had a blood transfusion last. He also added that whether he is alive or not Nigeria will still continue.
President Muhammadu Buhari arrived the country Friday at about 4 a.m., 51 days after he left the country on a medical vacation.
Owing to the closure of the Abuja airport, presidency sources informed THISDAY that his plane was scheduled to land at the Kaduna airport in the wee hours of Friday, following which he was to be flown by helicopter to the President Villa, Abuja.
The sources also revealed that the president might address the nation Friday after his long absence, in order to quell any concerns over his capacity to govern.
The news of his return Friday was broken last night in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina.
Adesina recalled that the president left the shores of the country on January 19 for a vacation, during which he was scheduled to undergo routine medical check-ups.
He said the scheduled vacation was however extended due to the advice by his doctors that he undergoes further medical tests.
According to him, the president expressed gratitude to the generality of Nigerians in all parts of the country and beyond who supported him in their prayers and good wishes while he was away.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to the country tomorrow, Friday March 10, 2017. The President left the country on January 19, 2017 for a vacation, during which he had routine medical check-ups.
“The holiday was extended based on doctors’ recommendation for further tests and rest.
“President Buhari expresses appreciation to teeming Nigerians from across the country and beyond, who had prayed fervently for him and also sent their good wishes,” the statement said.
Earlier Thursday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev. Justin Welby, had paid a visit to Buhari in Abuja House, London where the president had resided throughout his medical vacation.
The president, who announced Welby’s visit on his Facebook page, said he was pleased to receive the archbishop, whom he described as his friend.
“Very pleased to welcome my friend, the Most Rev. Hon. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury,” the president had said.
Other than his doctors, Welby was possibly the first non-Nigerian citizen to visit the president in London since January 19 when he left the country.
Last month, the president was visited by numerous Nigerians including two leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.
He had earlier been visited by the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Senator Daisy Danjuma.
He was also visited on February 23 by a National Assembly team led by Senate President Bukola Saraki. Also in the team was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
The visit was made days after both Saraki and Dogara had disclosed that they had telephone conversations with Buhari.
While Saraki said he called Buhari, Dogara said the president had called him and discussed issues affecting the welfare of Nigerians with him.
The president left the country on January 19, 2017, four days earlier than scheduled, stating that he would return on February 6 to resume duty.
But on February 5, the presidency announced the extension of his vacation indefinitely, saying the president was waiting for the results of the medical tests and needed to be certified okay by his doctors before leaving London.
Since then, speculations have been rife over the president’s health.
Indeed, even before the presidency informed the public of the extension of Buhari’s vacation, there were rumours that he had died in the UK.
All these proved to be untrue after the presidency released proof of life photographs of the president and his visitors.
The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said he and President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently on medical vacation have heard the cries of Nigerians on their sufferings “loud and clear.”
He promised that the present administration would ensure that all Nigerians get a fair deal.
Osinbajo spoke at a Consultative Forum on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He admitted that the nation is in what he called a serious economic situation.
He said while the President had acknowledged it, he himself saw it while going round the country.
Protesters of the #IStandWithBuhari protesters has began a peaceful protest at the Unity Fountain park Abuja venue of the #IstandWithNigeria protest. See more photos below
8 - His Excellency, Mr President should pray for his health, I see him traveling out for an unscheduled health checkup. But this time, it will be more serious. He should pray for his health, God will keep him.
9 There will be serious attempt to frustrate the Vice President . This attempt will be so strong. There are some cabals that will want him out of the seat. This attempt would not just be by political measures but an attempt through striking of his life as well. He should pray and be careful but the Lord will keep him.
Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, while speaking in Ado Ekiti with some journalists on Saturday night declared that he will rule Nigeria as a president in future.
The governor made this revelation at an Annual Media Get-Together, held at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti that the revelation about becoming a future Nigerian leader was made known to him by God.
“It is according to God’s will that I will one day become the president of Nigeria
“Do not bother to ask me questions as to how this will materialise, I also do not know how it will happen but all I know is that I shall one day occupy the presidential villa, not as a visitor but as president
He claimed to be in the good book of most Nigerians, whom he said would always be ready to make God’s plans for him come to pass at the appointed time.
He announced on the occasion that he would use his position as chairman of PDP governors forum to correct many ills of the society as well as fight the cause of the poor masses.
He also told the gathering that the anti-graft body, EFCC had again re-freeze his accounts personal accounts domiciled with Zenith Bank, in defiance to the court order made last month.
Donald Trump becomes 45th president as protests turn violent in Washington DC.
Donald Trump has been officially sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
The inauguration took place outside US Capitol in Washington, DC on Friday, ushering in a new political era.
"Together we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come," Trump said in his inaugural speech.
"We will face challenges, we will confront hardships, but we will get the job done."
He added: "For too long a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of government. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth."
He also pledged to unite the world against "radical Islam".
After finishing his inaugural speech, Barack Obama, the outgoing president, tapped his shoulder and said, "Good job, good job".
Trump, a 70-year old businessman, has no previous political experience. He is a former reality TV star whose campaign dominated headlines over his shocking comments on minorities, women and rival politicians.
During the run up to the November 8 election, he promised to ban Muslims from entering the US. He also called for a wall to deter Mexicans from travelling to America. Later, a recording of him saying that he grabs women's genitals when the mood takes him was leaked.
Speaking at the inauguration, Chuck Shumer, a senator from New York, said that America is now living in a "challenging and tumultuous time" ahead of the oaths.
"Faith in our government, our institutions and even our country can erode," he said. "Today we celebrate one of democracy's core attributes: the peaceful transfer of power."
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office, which was witnessed by Trump's wife, the First Lady Melania Trump.
Mike Pence, vice president, was also sworn in ahead of a crowd of an estimated 900,000 people.
Clashes and protests
About 28,000 security personnel, kilometres of fencing, street barricades, and trucks laden with sand were part of the security cordon around eight-square kilometres of central Washington for the ceremony.
In Washington, DC, anti-Trump protesters were pepper-sprayed by police officers in sporadic clashes.
Black-clad activists protesting Trump's inauguration smashed shop and car windows in the capital on Friday and fought with police in riot gear who responded with pepper spray and stun grenades.
About 500 people, some wearing masks and kerchiefs over their faces, marched through the city's downtown, breaking the windows of a Bank of America branch, a McDonald's outlet and a Starbucks shop, all symbols of the American capitalist system.
The crowd, which carried at least one sign that read "Make Racists Afraid Again", also vandalised several cars and hurled trash cans and newspaper vending boxes into the streets before being largely dispersed by police.
"The message I want to send is that Trump does not represent this country. He represents the corporate interests," said Jessica Reznicek, a 35-year-old Catholic aid worker from Des Moines, Iowa, who participated in a peaceful march.
Not far from the White House, protesters scuffled with police, at one point throwing aluminum chairs at an outdoor cafe.
Earlier, liberal activists with a separate group called Disrupt J20 intermittently blocked multiple security checkpoints leading to the largest public viewing area for the ceremony. Several were led away by police.
Disrupt J20 protest organiser Alli McCracken, 28, of Washington, said the group was voicing opposition to Trump's discriminatory comments about women, undocumented immigrants and Muslims.
"We have a lot of people of diverse backgrounds who are against US imperialism and we feel Trump will continue that legacy," McCracken said on a gray morning with light rain.
Trump supporters also flooded into the capital, many sporting shirts and hats bearing his "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan.
Other protests and demonstrations took place across the country, and in the rest of the world.
