NAN-H-73
Buhari
Ibadan, March 10, 2017 (NAN) Prominent Nigerians have continued to express joy over the return of President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country after his medical vacation in London.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Buhari left the country on Jan. 19 for London.
Chief Akin Oke, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress(APC) in Oyo State, expressed joy at the president’s return.
“We are extremely happy on his safe return. You know our state is one of the president’s support base and among those who prayed fervently for his return.
“We welcome him back to continue with his efforts at repositioning the country to greater heights.
“ We also thank him for giving us a loyal and hardworking Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.
“Their combination was God ordained and we hope they will take the nation to the desired heights,” he said.
Dr Kola Balogun, a former Commissioner of Commerce in the state, told NAN that it was good that the president had returned to continue the good work he started.
He warned Nigerians against unsavoury comments on the health of one another, irrespective of the person’s status.
“The president has the right to take care of his health, likewise other Nigerians. Nigerians should learn to be prayerful on such occasions, irrespective of whoever is involved.
“It should be a concern of all that when the president is sick, it will have effect on the country. We elected him and we should always support him to succeed,’’ he said.
Alhaji Asimiyu Alarape, a former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, congratulated the president on his return back to the country.
“I believe the president would have studied the situation and will be ready by now with new ideas and solutions to move the nation to greater heights,” he said.
Mr Akinyemi Akinlabi, a former Chairman of Ibarapa Central Local Government, said the president was returning with renewed vigour to recover stolen wealth, fight corruption and instil normalcy in the polity.
“To God be the glory, the arrival of the president has put an end to the unpleasant thinking of some Nigerians.
“It will seal the lips of those who think it is abnormal for a 74-year-old to go for medical care simply because he is the president,” he said.
Akinlabi, who prayed that God continue to strengthen Buhari urged him to take a rest, study the situation and help reverse the economic recession in the country.
In Abeokuta, residents also expressed delight at the news of the return of the from his medical trip abroad.
The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ogun, Bishop Tunde Akin- Akinsanya, expressed joy over Buhari’s return, saying that “it is a good thing for Nigerian citizens, particularly Christians.’’
While commending Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for the good work he had done while Buhari was on vacation, the cleric expressed confidence that the president’s return would fast- track the recovery rate of the economy.
“Nigerians have missed Buhari inspite of the tireless work of the vice-president who has also remained loyal to his boss by constantly contacting him on critical issues,” he said.
The CAN president, however, called on Buhari to take drastic actions to address many lingering issues affecting the nation.
He asked for a review of some of the CBN policies which had continued to slow down the pace of economic recovery
The cleric also asked Buhari to relax the ban on importation of rice and vehicles through land border.
Akin-Akinsanya further asked the president to check the recklessness of some security agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) while calling for stronger measures to contain the southern Kaduna crisis..
Alh Khanaldeen Akintunde, National President, National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, (NACOMYO), described the president’s return as delightful.
“ It is great that Buhari returned to continue his good work which his able vice -president had sustained while he was away to seek medical attention.
“We expect him to rest for the weekend and resume fully to his table by Monday to take briefing from Osinbajo who held sway during the period of his absence,” he said.
Dr Tolani Hassan, a senior lecturer at the College of Management and Social Sciences, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, said he was happy and elated about Buhari’s return.
He said that the development would put to all the rumours and speculations concerning the president’s health to rest.
“Now that he his back home, the president should focus on fixing the economy and giving the citizens re-assurance on his administration’s drive for economic recovery.
“Job security and job creation should be at the forefront of his agenda because people are hungry and angry.
“Majority are frustrated as they struggle to make ends meet which is what has brought about high incidence of crime.
“We wish him well and pray that God perfects all that concerns his health and his plans,” Hassan said.
Yinka Folarin, the Chairman, Ogun branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR), also described Buhari’s return as a cheering development.
He also asked him to sustain and improve on the “encouraging” recovery pace being experienced on the economy.
Akeem Ambali, the Ogun NLC Chairman, also expressed delight at the return of Buhari,“ “It is relieving to know that the president is finally back to the country. ‘’
“The air of suspicion surrounding his absence is not good for democracy and good governance.
“For us, we love Baba and we want him to fix many things in the country, including electricity because the bane of our development is lack of electricity,” he added.
In Ilorin, a resident, Mrs Arike Olawale said there were many positive developments on offer from the president’s absence.
“Even though he was not missed, we are happy he is fine now and we just have to accept the fact that he is back and we have to live with it.
“There are so many positive developments to take home during his absence,’’ she said.
Also speaking to NAN, Dr Uthman Mubashir of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), expressed joy at the return of the president.
He urged the Federal Government to focus on revamping Nigeria’s health sector to check medical tourism outside the country.
In Ado-Ekiti, the Publicity Secretary of APC in Ekiti, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, said members of the party in the state were delighted over the president’s safe return.
According to him, his return to the country has removed doubts and insinuations about the president’s health.
Also reacting, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Femi Bamisile, said the president’s return had brought relief to most Nigerians who so much believed in his ability to continue to lead the country.
In Osogbo, Alhaji Waheed Lawal, the Deputy National Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP), South-West, said it was a thing of joy for Nigerians to have the president back to the country alive.
” The president’s return to the country is a welcome development and we welcome him back home and we wish him well in the task of nation building.
“We also want to remind him that Nigerians are yearning for many things and we expect him to work at the same speed the acting President worked so that Nigerians can benefit from the dividends of democracy,’’ he said.(NAN)
REPORTERS/OJO
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