Buhari: I am not ready to come back yet.

The Presidency said on Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari will remain in London for a longer period on the advice of his doctors.

 According to his spokesman, Femi Adesina, tests showed that the president needs to stay longer than originally planned.

Adesina said he received a statement to that effect from the Nigeria House in the United Kingdom where Buhari is staying.

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari thanks millions of Nigerians who have been sending good wishes and praying for his health and well-being in mosques and churches throughout the country.

“The President is immensely grateful for the prayers, show of love and concern.

“President Buhari wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for worry.

“During his normal annual checkups, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the President staying longer than originally planned.”

 Buhari’s aides and top government officials in the past few weeks have said he would return soon.

The president has been in London since January 19 and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been acting as president in his absence.

Addressing State House correspondents, Adesina said the President wants Nigerians to know that he appreciates their prayers, their concerns and goodwill and that there is no cause to worry.

“He is the one who owns the body and there is nobody who will know his body more than him and he says no cause to worry.

“It makes sense to say that maybe from the results of the tests, further rests had been recommended. The statement did not say how long the rest will last.

“I speak for somebody; I do not speak for myself. So, it is what he tells me to say that I say and the statement transmitted to me is that the president needs to rest for some further time,” he said.

On the possibility that Buhari will speak to Nigerians, Adesina responded: “What he has just done is to speak to Nigerians.”

On what exactly is wrong with the President, Adesina said: “Don’t you know that the Hippocratic Oath even forbids a doctor from speaking about the condition of his patient except the patient authorises it?

“It is only the patient himself who can speak about what he is going through.

“This is the person going through these series of tests and rest and he says no cause to worry, let us believe that.”

Regarding the harassment of journalists who had been trying to reach the president in UK, he said: “I do not consider that harassment. Presidents are not hijacked and interviewed. Those things are scheduled. So I do not consider that as harassment.”

Commenting on reports that Buhari may remain in London for months, Adesina said: What we have just said is what I will want us to believe.

“The President said he needs to rest further. The same President that communicated that to us, when it is time for him to come, he will also communicate to us.”

He said those claiming that the President has lost his voice have to prove it noting “He spoke with President Trump. Did Trump say he did not speak with Nigerian President? Anybody can allege anything.

“My message to Nigerians is that let us learn to believe our leaders. This is a man we elected into office and he says no cause to worry, let us believe him.”

END