Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country Friday after a near-two month medical absence, but sounded a note of caution that he may need further treatment in the near future.
The 74-year-old leader left Nigeria January 19 for what was originally planned as a short vacation, including medical checks. But Buhari extended his stay in the U.K. due to medical advice, prompting speculation in Nigeria that he was critically ill or even dead, rumors which were consistently denied by officials.
Nigeria’s vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, has been acting president in Buhari’s absence, and has won plaudits for several symbolic trips to the conflict-ridden Niger Delta.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country Friday after a near-two month medical absence, but sounded a note of caution that he may need further treatment in the near future.
The 74-year-old leader left Nigeria January 19 for what was originally planned as a short vacation, including medical checks. But Buhari extended his stay in the U.K. due to medical advice, prompting speculation in Nigeria that he was critically ill or even dead, rumors which were consistently denied by officials.
Nigeria’s vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, has been acting president in Buhari’s absence, and has won plaudits for several symbolic trips to the conflict-ridden Niger Delta.
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, returning from a medical stay in London, is welcomed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, Nigeria, March 10. Buhari had been away for seven weeks on medical leave. prompting speculation about the state of his health.
Buhari touched down at a Nigerian Air Force base in the northern city of Kaduna early Friday morning. After greeting several officials, the president flew to the capital Abuja and gave a public address.
“I am feeling much better now. There may, however, be need to have further follow-ups within some weeks,” said Buhari in a video shared on his Twitter account.
Government officials have been cagey about the nature of Buhari’s illness. He was originally due to return to Nigeria February 6 after having treatment in Britain, but wrote to the National Assembly to request an extension while he waited for medical test results and rested on doctors’ advice.
“I couldn’t recall when I last had a blood transfusion,” said Buhari Friday, according to Reuters When pressed for details on his illness, the president said: “Blood transfusions, going to the laboratories and so on and so forth.”
Buhari added that he “deliberately came back toward the weekend so that the vice-president will continue and I will continue to rest.” One of his advisors tweeted that Buhari had been joking, and Buhari’s spokesman Femi Adesina said that the president would notify the National Assembly of his “formal” return to work Monday.
Nigerians on social media—including Buhari’s wife, Aisha—welcomed the president back.
