•I don’t know when president’ll return –Oyegun

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

Some of the seven governors who visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London on Wednesday have been talking on the ailing president’s rapid recovery and the prospects of his return to the country soon.

One of them, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, described the recovery of the president as “a miracle” considering reports on his health in the social media. He said the social media portrayed the president’s health as “bad”.

Umahi told the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network news, at 9am, that he was “excited” to see the president in a good frame of mind, adding that he was grateful to God that the prayer of Nigerians for the president’s recovery had been heard.

Kano State Governor, Abadullahi Ganduje, who was also in the governors’ delegation to London, said Buhari was in a good state of health and expressed the hope that the president will soon return to the country.

“We believe he will soon be back to Nigeria,” he said.

In a tweet under the photograph of the visit, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi said: “My counterparts in the governors’ forum delegation and I were warmly received by His Excellency President @MBuhari in London, United Kingdom.

Another governor in the delegation said the president cracked jokes with the delegation without any speech inhibition.

He said: “Buhari walked without support to receive us and he took time to exchange pleasantries with each one of us. We also had a group photograph.”

“His voice was the usual intonation, and he has no speech inhibition in whatsoever manner. He was overwhelmed by our visit. He told us he is ready to come back to his desk once clearance is given by his doctors. We compared notes on the state of the nation and the tasks ahead. “The signs of recovery were visible, but not overwhelming on him. He was looking healthier than when he came back the last time. Buhari is back to life.”

The governors who were in London to see the Buhari were Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abdulahhi Ganduje (Kano), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

The delegation had lunch with the president at Abuja House, Nigeria’s official residence in London. President’s wife, Aisha, was with him to receive the delegation while Ortom’s wife, Eunice, was also in attendance.

Before the governors’ visit to London, the president had, on Sunday, hosted the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, other party leaders and some governors elected on the platform of the APC inside the Abuja House in London, United Kingdom.

Regardless, National Chairman of the ruling APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, has said only President Buhari can conveniently tell when he would leave London to return to the country.

Oyegun, who was among the delegation that visited Buhari in company of seven other state governors last weekend, said the president’s continued stay in London was on doctor’s advice for him to build up enough stamina before returning to the country. Oyegun said: “There has been sufficient information to the public and we want to confirm that Mr. President is convalescing very strongly. Right now, he is having enough rest to build up his stamina.

“But the worst is certainly over. Mr. president is going to come back soon to face the responsibilities for which the people of this country elected him. I am glad to say that he is recovering beautifully.”

Commenting on the concerns raised by the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, over Buhari’s health, Oyegun said: “I hate to comment on anything the governor of Ekiti state said because when people have taken leave of common sense and all decency to make fun of the president of this nation who is going through a serious health crisis, it is not really worth commenting on.

“But I am glad that even yesterday (Wednesday), PDP governors went there were happy with the pace of Mr. president’s recovery,” he said.