President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It was one of the President’s first major engagement since returning to Abuja on Saturday after 10-day working holiday in London.
The meeting, which was held at the President’s office stated around 11.27a.m
It was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
Details later…
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to Nigeria today after his ten-day-vacation in London, United Kingdom.
His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed this in to newsmen on Friday.
Shehu, however, said he could not confirm the exact time the President would arrive the country today.
“The President is expected back in the country tomorrow (Saturday).
“For now, I can’t confirm the exact time he will land but protocol officials will alert us on time ahead so that we can move to the airport to receive him. He will definitely arrive in the country on Saturday.”
Recall that Buhari had on August 3 started another round of vacation from Friday during which he remained in London, United Kingdom, throughout.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had in a statement on August 1 said Buhari would be away for 10 working days.
He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would be the Acting President during the period.
The statement had read, “President Muhammadu Buhari begins a 10- working day holiday from August 3, 2018. In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.
“While the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President.
“President Buhari will be in London for the holiday.”
While the President was away, Osinbajo had sacked the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura, and asked that Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, being the most senior officer, take over in acting capacity.
Daura’s sacking followed the invasion of the National Assembly by officials of the DSS.
Osinbajo had also, while Buhari was away, ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad following public outcry over the activities of the police unit.
Meanwhile, Buhari on Friday rejoiced with the founder and Chairman of Honeywell Group, Ayoola Oba Otudeko, who turns 75 on Saturday.
In a statement by Adesina, the President saluted the business magnate “for his vision, wisdom and dexterity in setting up businesses that cut across the oil and gas industry, flour mills, hospitality and transportation, providing services and employment that strengthen the Nigerian economy.”
The statement read in part, “As Oba Otudeko celebrates his 75th birthday, the President shares the joyful time with members of his family, friends and community of business colleagues, acknowledging his many contributions to the development of the country through wise counsels to governments and willingness to serve on boards and committees that are focused on steering and buoying the economy.
“President Buhari extols the warm heartedness and magnanimity of the business mogul for setting up the Oba Otudeko Foundation, which provides for the less privileged members of the society and inspires start-ups, especially among the youth.
“The President prays that the almighty God will continue to strengthen Oba Otudeko, grant him longer life and more wisdom to keep expanding his investments in the country and beyond.”
The Presidency has described the social media report that President Muhammadu Buhari, extended his ongoing 10 working days vacation in London as fake.
The purported fake news indicates that the President had already transmitted a letter to the National Assembly to this effect.
The official twitter handle of the presidency @NGRPresident, late Tuesday night, dismissed the report, saying it is an old story which was first circulated during the president’s vacation in Feb. 2017.
The presidency, therefore, enjoined all peace-loving citizens to ignore the fake news, saying that President Buhari had not extended his vacation.
It stated: “This story from Feb. 2017 is currently being mischievously circulated on social media platforms, to create the impression that it’s related to the president’s current vacation.
“Kindly take note of the date, 2017. The President has not extended his ongoing 10-working-day vacation.’’
The fake news alert read: “Breaking: Buhari extends vacation, writes National Assembly’’
President Buhari had on Aug. 3 commenced a 10 working days holiday.
The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement on Aug. 1, in Abuja.
He said: “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.
“While the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President.”
Adesina said the President would be in London for the holiday.
President Muhammadu Buhari will begin another round of vacation to the London, United Kingdom, today (Friday).
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
Adesina said Buhari would be away for 10 working days.
He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would be the acting President during the period.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari begins a 10 working day holiday from August 3, 2018.
“In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.
“While the President is on vacation, the Vice-President will be in an acting capacity as President.
“President Buhari will be in London for the holiday.”
Recall that Buhari had between February 5 and 10, 2016 embarked on a six-day vacation when he remained in London.
On June 6, 2016, he embarked on another 10-day vacation to attend to an ear infection.
Adesina had explained then that Buhari was battling with what he called “persistent ear infection.”
Adesina had said although the President had been examined and treated by his personal physician and a specialist in Abuja, both doctors advised him to go for further evaluation as a precaution.
He said then that the President would, therefore, use the 10-day break to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in London.
Buhari returned to Nigeria on June 19, 2016, after spending 14 days in London.
He again left the country on January 19, 2017, on what the Presidency described then as a medical vacation.
When the trip was prolonged, presidential aides announced that the President would be staying back in the British capital to enable him to collect results of some medical tests conducted on him.
Buhari returned to the country on March 10, 2017, after a 49-day medical sojourn, saying he had never been that sick in his life.
He then gave an indication that he would return to London for further check-ups.
After missing public events, including three consecutive weekly Federal Executive Council meetings which raised anxiety in the country, Buhari on May 7, 2017, returned to London for medical consultations.
He returned to the country on August 19, 2017.
The President had also on May 8, 2018, embarked on a four-day medical trip to the UK.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had in a statement said, “President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow (Tuesday) undertake a four-day trip to the United Kingdom.
“In the course of the technical stop-over for aircraft maintenance in London on his way back from Washington last week, the President had a meeting with his doctor.
“The doctor requested the President to return for a meeting which he agreed to do.
“President Buhari will return on Saturday, May 12th.
“On his return, the President’s two-day state visit to Jigawa, which was postponed because of the All Progressives Congress Ward Congresses, will now take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday, 15th of May.”
The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari’s scheduled 10-day vacation in London was an alibi to exonerate him from alleged “planned political illegalities,” “forceful invasion” and “mayhem” which it said were about to be visited on the National Assembly.
The party said it was aware of plots which it alleged had been perfected in a meeting, on Wednesday night, between the Presidency and some All Progressives Congress senators, to forcefully reconvene the Senate, with protection from security agencies, with a view to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, also alleged that the PDP was aware of the desperation to illegally take control of the National Assembly.
He said this was part of the design to undermine the nation’s democratic institutions and completely foist a dictatorial regime on the nation.
He said, “The planned invasion is also a bid to cover the atrocious and humongous corruption of the Buhari administration, which the National Assembly is set to expose.
“The PDP has been reliably informed about how these APC senators, especially members of the Buhari Parliamentary Support Group, have been provided with huge sums of money, illegally lifted from repatriated funds, to carry out this nefarious act under the guise of urgent need to approve funds for the 2019 general elections.
“Having been demeaned by the widespread condemnation of the recent siege on the residences of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, in addition to the invasion of the Benue State House of Assembly in a failed attempt to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom and forcefully take over the state, President Buhari is now jetting out of the country so as to appear innocent and oblivious of the political terrors about to be unleashed on the National Assembly.”
He reminded President Buhari and the APC that the PDP has taken over the Senate and that the party “is ready and able to protect our democracy with all instruments available in the constitution and parliamentary rule books.”
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and his family on Wednesday travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on his annual vacation.
This was revealed by the Vice President’s spokesperson Laolu Akande, in a tweet Wednesday.
“VP Osinbajo, his wife & children have been resting abroad on his annual leave. He is expected back in the country this weekend from the UAE,” Akande said.
VP Osinbajo, his wife & children have been resting abroad on his annual leave. He is expected back in the country this weekend from the UAE.
— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) January 3, 2018
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, began his annual vacation.
A statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor decided to rest after a busy schedule.
“The governor is expected to use the period of his vacation to rest, after a busy schedule both within and outside the state, especially his role as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Reconciliation Committee, among others”, the statement said.
The statement quoted the governor as calling on Bayelsans to remain steadfast in their prayers and support for programmes and policies of his administration.
He called for sustenance of the peace and stability in the state to allow various development projects progress unhindered.
The governor stressed that the administration remains focus on its agenda to develop the state.
But the statement was silent on resumption date of the governor and where he will be spending his vacation.
Following the public outcry by Nigerians for President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation from London where he is currently on vacation, the presidency on Thursday has reacted saying the president will not speak because he has right to his vacation.
This was revealed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina on a monitored television programme.
According to Adesina, “Mr. President will not speak to Nigerians because he has a right to his vacation, we don’t need to intrude.”
The President’s media aide also noted that those doubting the veracity of the released photographs of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara’s visit in London are “haters, greedy.”
TheNewsGuru.com recalls that both National Assembly leaders met with the President on Wednesday in Abuja house in London.
TheNewsGuru.com also recalls that the president, who is currently on a medical vacation in London, was recently rumoured dead.
The rumour was dispelled by the presidency and media aides to the president.
TheNewsGuru.com recalls that President Muhammadu had on January 19 proceeded on a 10 days medical leave to London. He was expected back in the country on February 6.
However, on the advise of his medical team, the presented wrote the leadership of the National Assembly seeking for an indefinite extension of his vacation in London.
Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been carrying out the roles of the president in acting capacity since January 19 that the president jetted out of the country to London.
The presidency on Sunday night gave more reasons for the extension of a 10-day vacation of President Muhammadu Buhari who was suppose to resume duties on Monday (today).
TheNewsGuru.com recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had written the National Assembly for an indefinite extension of his vacation in London citing health related concerns.
The Senior Special Adviser of Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina, said the period of extension of the president’s vacation in London was not specified because ““there is no vacuum in government’’.
Adesina, who spoke in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said the time was not stated so as enable the president to get clean bill of health from his doctors.
He said the president has already transmitted power to the Vice-President who had been performing his constitutional duties as acting president.
According to Adesina, with the extension of his vacation, President Buhari now has adequate time to rest before he returns home.
“”When he was leaving on Jan. 19 we announced that it was a vacation during which he would also do routine medical check-ups.
“”Now, those check-ups have thrown up things that need to be further looked at and that is why he is asking for this extension of the vacation.
““The time is not stated and that reason is not far to seek because Mr President transmitted power to his vice, who is now the acting President.
“”So, he does not need to be under that pressure of time again because there is no vacuum in government, there is an acting president.
“”Therefore, the doctors can now exhaustively look at him and give him a clean bill of health before he returns home,’’ he said.
On those spreading dangerous rumours on the president’s health conditions, the presidential aide urged them to desist from such ungodly acts.
He charged them to always pray for the good health of the president and have goodwill toward their fellow human beings.
“”My message will be what I also said before, goodwill, let us have goodwill towards our president.
“”We as human beings must have goodwill towards one another. Any man can be sick; any man can get well; any man can even die, we are mortals. Anybody can die; anybody falls sick can also get well.
“”Therefore, all those who peddle those evil, mischievous, malicious and malevolent rumours on social media need to have a rethink. Instead of all those evil wishes they should have goodwill towards the president,’’ he added.
Adesina in an earlier statement disclosed that President Buhari had written the National Assembly, informing it of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.
“The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.
“Mr. President expresses his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concern, prayers and kind wishes,” a statement earlier issued by Adesina on Sunday said.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari left Abuja for the United Kingdom on Jan. 19 on a short leave, which is part of his annual vacation.
The President formally handed over mantle of leadership of the country to his Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who has been in acting capacity since the president’s departure.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), says it has mobilised no fewer than 15,000 Nigerian youths to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, from vacation.
TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the President proceeded on a 10-day vacation in London on Jan. 23 and is expected to return to Nigeria on Feb. 6, 2017.
Malam Gambo Jagindi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of NYCN, Murtala Gamji, made the disclosure in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Jagindi said that time had come for Nigerian youths, who are the future leaders of the country to show love, solidarity and support for the President, who is their current leader.
“ The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has concluded arrangements to mobilise not less than 15,000 of its members to be at Abuja airport on Feb. 6, to welcome President Buhari from vacation.
“It is on record that integrity, discipline and honesty are gradually returning to our public life unlike in the past when impunity was the order of the day,’’ the spokesman said.
He berated those spreading rumours of death about the President.
He said: “we all know that they do not have the interest of our country at heart and are only wishing to carry on with the looting of our treasury in the absence of our president.’’
Jagindi said that Buhari’s assignment for Nigeria was not yet over, adding that only God could determine who lived or died.
He commended the president’s efforts to rid the country of what he termed, “undesirable elements’’ who did not mean well for Nigeria and Nigerians.
He urged Buhari to continue with the good work as the youths of Nigeria were solidly behind him.
He noted that in spite of the “corrupt mafias’’ working to undermine the anti-corruption war, Nigerian youths under NYCN would continue to support Buhari’s laudable programmes.