| Since he was inaugurated on May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has so far undertaken more than 230 days of working holiday to London probably on medical tourism.
This is as he will on Friday, August 3, commence a 10-day working holiday to London. A statement signed by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina said he will spend his holiday in London, the United Kingdom. Already, Buhari has officially informed Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate, and Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, about his trip. While he is away, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will act on his behalf, the statement indicated. “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.” From the archives, Buhari departed Nigeria on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 and was due in Nigeria on Saturday, May 12, 2018. The New York Times wrote that: “The president is scheduled to return to Nigeria on Saturday, at which point he will have spent more than 170 days in London on official medical leave since becoming president in 2015”. According to Pulse, here’s a timeline of Buhari’s health travels: February 5, 2016 Buhari embarked on a six-day medical vacation to London. June 6, 2016 Buhari takes to the skies for a 10-day medical vacation. Presidency said Buhari had to travel to deal with a “persistent ear infection”. January 19, 2017 Buhari was off to London again on a medical vacation. February 5, 2017 Buhari wrote the National Assembly, asked lawmakers to extend his London medical leave. March 10, 2017 Buhari returned to Nigeria but could not resume work immediately. Presidency said “he’s working from home”. May 7, 2017 Buhari embarked on trip to London for another medical vacation. He returned after 104 days. August 19, 2017 Buhari returned to Nigeria and it took him a while to resume work because rats had reportedly damaged furniture in his office. Presidency announced he would be working from home. May 8, 2018 Buhari was off to London for “medical review”—another name for a medical vacation. August 3, 2018 Buhari jets to London on a 10-day working leave In April 2016, Buhari told the nation that he was not a fan of medical tourism and that he won’t encourage the political class to take to the skies for medical reasons either. “While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria,”Buhari said, according to a statement from the Health Ministry at the time. |
In another development, President Muhammadu Buhari was Tuesday elected Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the just-concluded ECOWAS Summit in Lome, Togo.
His media aide, Bashir Ahmad made this knwon on his Twitter handle he said “President Muhammadu Buhari has been elected the new Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the just concluded ECOWAS Summit in Lome, Togo’
Also, Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement said that President Buhari’s election was one of the highpoints of the 53rd Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS which held in the Togolese capital.
Shehu in the statement said, “In his acceptance remarks, the Nigerian leader, who commended his colleagues for his election, noted that he did not offer himself for the post, “but you refused to take my no for an answer.”
“He, however, told his fellow leaders that, “I am truly humbled and pledge to serve and work with all of you to deliver on peace, security, good governance and socio-economic development” of the sub-region, and “take our organisation to greater heights.
“President Buhari also commended his immediate predecessor and President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe for successfully hosting two important meetings of the Joint Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and ECOWAS as well as the 53rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.”
He further stated that President Buhari had earlier been presented with the Emblem of ECOWAS by the outgoing Chairman, while the next meeting of the organisation will take place in Abuja on December 21, 2018.
