Aso Rock, one week after Buhari’s return

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari left the country for London, United Kingdom in the evening of May 7 to keep a date with his doctors because of his failing health.

Expectedly, activities at his side of the Presidential Villa, Abuja became lull. There were no meetings neither were there visitors to that side of the expansive compound.

Reporters accredited to cover activities at the seat of power had no other choice than to relocate to the side occupied by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who had then taken over as Acting President based on a letter written to the National Assembly by the President before he proceeded on the trip.

That scenario played out for the 104 days that the President was away with journalists reporting at the Vice-President’s side daily despite that that wing of the Presidential Villa has no press gallery.

They endured the inconvenience until Saturday, August 19, when news broke that the President was on his way back to the country. The reporters quickly mobilised to give the welcome ceremony the publicity that it deserved.

After taking his deserved rest on Sunday, then came Monday when the President was expected in his office for the first time in over three months. The journalists turned up early with a view to capture all the important moments of the President’s resumption in his office.

But alas, Buhari’s first day at work at Aso Rock was not really eventful as expected especially for journalists who had turned up early anticipating to see a beehive of activities including visitors on solidarity visit. The journalists were initially excited when they saw an ambulance, which is one of the vehicles in the President’s convoy back at its usual spot. This is usually the first sign that the President is in his office.

They were however shocked to hear from an official in the presidency official that the president would be working from home for the meantime as his office is undergoing renovation. The claim that rodents had destroyed some items in the President’s office to necessitate the renovation was initially not part of the explanation to the journalists.

At noon, the President met and received a briefing from Osinbajo in an office located in his residence where his handlers said he would be working from for the next few days. The President also received the Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, who obviously went to welcome him.

Then came Wednesday, when the Federal Executive Council meeting that was held consistently every Wednesday while he was away failed to hold. Rather, about 2pm, Buhari received the report of the three-man committee that probed the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir  Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

Oke was investigated for $43.4 million cash found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at apartment 7B in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, which was said to be set aside for operations of the agency.

On the same day, Buhari assured the South East geo-political zone of the country that his administration would keep to its campaign promises to the region, adding that the region would get its fair share in his administration.

On Friday, as part of efforts to douse the tension in the polity, Buhari met with the leadership of the two leading parties in the country, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, at Aso Rock, Abuja.

The meeting was the first of its kind since the inception of his administration, coming on the heels of insinuations by some members of the opposition that Buhari was in a vegetative state leading to exchange of vindictive comments between the two leading parties.

The President said the meeting was meant to symbolise national unity and not politically motivated. He, however, reminded the opposition party that opposition was not hostility, enmity or antagonism as democracy needed a vibrant opposition.

The National Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Ahmed Makarfi, however assured Buhari that though the party is in opposition, it is poised to play that role energetically, vibrantly, but very decently and with all sense of responsibility. He added that the party would give Buhari’s administration a good run for its money and constantly keep it on its toes all in a bid to have a better country.

Buhari also met with governors from the 36 states of the federation under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), telling them he was morally geared up to carry out his primary assignment for the country.

President  Buhari also joined other Muslim faithful in observing jumaat at the State House mosque.

Among the congregation were state governors and federal government officials.

In the coming days, Nigerians are expecting  to see if the President will make bold to reshuffle his cabinet as unconfirmed sources had said the President will do so upon return from London in order to boot out non-performing ministers.

As the President’s return enters its second week, it is expected that more activities will be witnessed from his side just as he is getting stronger by the day.

from The Sun News http://ift.tt/2wRzroE
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