Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday expressed happiness with the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from medical vacation in London, saying the president’s recovery was symbolic of the recovery of the country.
Mr. Osinbajo said this while addressing state House Correspondents shortly after conferring with Mr. Buhari at his residence.
“The message to Nigerians is that first the recovery and the recuperation of the president is in some sense symbolic of the recovery of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is going to recover. We are on the path to sure economic recovery.
“This is a good sign, it is an excellent sign that our country is on the right path.
“There is great hope, there is great excitement and we are going to make it as a nation and as a people,’’ Mr. Osinbajo added.
Reacting to the reception of the president at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mr. Osinbajo said it was a massive and spontaneous action as many Nigerians heard of the return only few hours earlier.
“We are very excited and I am extremely happy that the President is back in good health and roaring to go; it is so good to see him.
“Many Nigerians as you could see from the airport reception were very excited to see the president.
“People had prayed, people had hoped; it is just a natural reaction just seeing him and hearing that he is around.
“As you could see the response was very spontaneous and many people are excited and very happy that he is back,’’ he remarked.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also saluted President Muhammadu Buhari on his return from his over three months medical vacation to London.
PDP’s welcome message was contained in a statement by the Dayo Adeyeye, the Party’s Caretaker Committee National Publicity Secretary.
“We believe that Mr. President is healthier now to assume his responsibility at the helm of the Country’s affairs, the statement read.
“We thank the Almighty for saving his life.
“We pray that God grants him better health and understanding on how to rescue our poor economy and relieve Nigerians from the current hardship.”
In his own message, Ahmed Tinubu, expressed joy at the return of President Buhari, saying the president’s return was a nation’s hope fulfilled.
According to a statement by his Media Office, Tinubu, who is currently abroad, said the president had always been a man of moral fortitude, discipline, strength, and dedication.
Such attributes, he said, had helped him battle medical challenges. “These same attributes will lead him to success in surmounting our national challenges.”
“President Buhari has demonstrated time and again his devotion to this nation and its great causes. His love of country and the realization that he has a mission to fulfil so that Nigeria may realize its better self by providing security and prosperity to all Nigerians has compelled him home.
“Just as we gathered to pray for his health and his return, we must remain united in spirit to support President Buhari as he pursues the progressive agenda for which he was elected and that promises us all a better day.
“Our nation is strong but must overcome many challenges. We can do so with President Buhari at the helm and with the rest of the nation in active support.
“Thus, the president’s return home is both real and symbolic. We all must renew our faith in our collective purpose and rededicate ourselves to a nation indivisible and united in reconstructing our political economy so that it provides a decent and good life to all our people.
“It has been a heartening thing to see that our nation has matured to the point where governance continued in a meaningful, seamless manner during the president’s absence. This again was a sign of the harmony between President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“On this day, it is even more heartening to think of the things that can now be achieved with President Buhari back to lead the nation.
“Today is a glad and happy one for those who wish Nigeria well. While we celebrate the President’s return, we also must quickly turn to the hard and heavy work at hand.
“With President Buhari back and with the nation united behind him, we can accomplish excellent things. May we do our best to become our best.”
With NAN report