President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria on Saturday, August 19, 2017 after spending an unprecedented 103 days in the United Kingdom on a medical leave.
The ailing president landed at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at exactly 4:35pm where a large entourage of government officials had assembled to receive him.
President Buhari arrived in the company of his uncle, Mamman Daura, the reported head of the Aso Rock cabal, Lawal Kazaure, the Aso Rock chief of protocol, among others.
Buhari was received by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Abba Kyari, his chief of staff, Governor Nyesom WIke of Rivers State, Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser, and some other governors.
Some ministers were present at the “welcome ceremony”. Among them were Lai Mohammed, information and culture minister, Mansur Dan Ali, the defence minister, Mohammed Bello, the minister of the federal capital territory.
Other governors who received the president included those of Imo, Zamfara, Kano, and Bauchi States.
Shortly after his arrival, President Buhari shook hands with government officials.
The septunatian inspecting a guard of honour mounted by officers and personnel of Brigade of Guards before leaving the airport.
Buhari’s absence from the country gave rise to protests by pro-democracy groups like Concerned Nigerians and Our Mumu Don Do Movement, led by Deji Adeyanju and Charly Boy respectively. These protests were met with brute force by the Nigerian police.
