President Buhari returns from his medical trip abroad, after more than two weeks.
President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country via the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport from the United Kingdom on Thursday 15th April 2021, after his routine medical checkup.
Before his departure on Tuesday 30th of March 2021, the President held a security meeting with the Service Chiefs and other head of security agencies at the Villa.
The presidency also had explained that Buhari’s travel to the UK was not on an emergency case and that the Nigerian leader was not sick, dousing insinuations from critics who raised the alarm that the 78-year-old was not feeling well.
“It is a routine medical check-up; the Buhari has undertaken this with a set of doctors that he has retained over many years,” said Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
He also explained that Buhari did not transmit power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noting that the President will not be away for so long to contravene the law.
“The requirement of the law is that the President is going to be absent in the country for 21 days and more, then that transmission is warranted. In this particular instance, it is not warranted,” the presidential had aide said.
Buhari’s departure was also widely criticised by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which described the move as an indictment of his government, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.