President not fit for full-time work yet, Villa source says he needs more rest

dimeji akinloye

March 19, 2017 4:36 PM

Sources say Buhari barely spent four hours in his office daily since he resumed work last Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Two weeks after returning from a medical vacation in London, President

Buhari barely spent four hours in his office daily since he resumed work last Monday, Punch reports

It was gathered that his aides drastically scaled down his itinerary to give him more time to rest.

The report said no appointment was scheduled for the President outside his office since his resumption except for the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, which he presided over on Wednesday, and his brief appearance at the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday.

The two events were said to have been held in the Council Chambers located about 50 metres from his office.

Buhari, however, has not attended any event outside the Presidential Villa.

"As you can see, almost all the President’s engagements for the week were held inside his office. That was designed to allow him to rest. Hopefully, from the coming week, the President may participate in more activities," a Villa source told the newspaper.

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On why the President has not fully resumed official duties, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said it is natural for someone who just returned from a medical leave.

"When a man just returns from a medical vacation, common sense dictates that he eases himself gradually into a schedule that is naturally rigorous," he said.

When asked if the President would be fit to discharge his official duties, Adesina said Buhari himself has said he would to work harder.

He said, "The answer to your question has been given by the President himself. On the day he came, he vowed to rededicate himself to serving Nigerians, and when governors met him on Thursday, one of them asked him to do the minimum, so that he can serve Nigeria for a longer time. He responded by saying it is time to repay those who elected him into office by working harder for them."

When Buhari returned to the country on Friday, March 10, he had said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, would continue working while he recuperates.

Osinbajo had been acting as President in Buhari's absence.

dimeji akinloye