The Presidency has confirmed that since the President returned to Nigeria from his 50-day medical vacation in London, and resumed duty on Monday, he had never rested.
Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who did the confirmation today declared: “in the first week of his return, President Buhari walked his talk on his intense desire to pay back to Nigerians by way of keeping their trust and serving their interests. His reply to the people for their support and trust is to work much harder for them.
“The President didn’t have a day off or even a light week at all throughout his week of resumption.”
Garba Shehu who spoke in an interview with Pyramid Radio in Kano State, said: “I read those analyses and I believe they were mostly wrong. What they don’t understand is that the President doesn’t follow official working hours because he is on duty all the time. He has another office by his living room so he works from home when most civil servants have closed.”
The Presidential spokesman said that contrary to some of the assumptions, President Buhari had an engaging week devoted mostly to policy issues not ceremonial events.
“He started on Monday with the letters he sent to the two arms of the parliament signifying his return to work. He then went in for a handover briefing by the Vice President. They had a lot to discuss between themselves.”
Garba Shehu said that though the President gave specific mandates to the Acting President, he needed to be brought up to speed on the developments in the Supreme Court, the Niger Delta, the economy, with particular reference to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERPG), which was launched in his absence and programs like the Small and medium Enterprises Clinic, which has strong connections to the agricultural strategy of the administration.”
According to the spokesman, on Tuesday last week, the President followed up his meeting with the Vice President getting details from the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the liquidity situation of the country, the issue of reserves and the outlook for the rest of the year.
The President, he said, then met with the Presiding Officials of the parliament: Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, saying that those two arms have dealt with the issue of his vacation with great sensitivity.
“On Wednesday, the President presided at the Federal Executive Council.
Shehu told his listeners that the President came well prepared for the meeting, appearing as if he had not been away for over a month.
“The noticeable thing about the last meeting was that it dwelled on policy. The meeting didn’t discuss contracts.
“On Thursday, the President had a joint sitting with the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, the Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and that of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma. They discussed the country’s economic situation, the progress on the 2017 budget and liquidity issues.
“On the same day, he held a state-of-nation meeting with Governors who had assembled for the routine meeting of the National Economic Council under the Vice President.
“Friday was used mostly for security briefing before the Juma’at prayers. The President has big ambitions for the country, driven by an intense desire to leave his mark on national affairs. This is as he said on his return last.” [myad]
