President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday wrote the National Assembly, notifying the legislature of his return to office, after returning from medical vacation in London.
He also received a briefing from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who functioned as the Acting President while Buhari was away for 103 days.
President @MBuhari receives briefing from Vice President @ProfOsinbajo at the State House, this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/cbAdw3qMwM
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) August 21, 2017
The President had returned to the country on Saturday, August 19 and in a letter dated August 21, he told the Senate as well as the House of Representatives that he was resuming office.
The letter stated in part: “In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I write to intimate that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, 21st August, 2017, after my medical follow-up in the United Kingdom.”
President Buhari had left for London on May 7, 2017, and handed the reins of government to Osinbajo.
In a televised speech broadcast on Monday, Buhari said he followed events in Nigeria on a daily basis during his absence and was concerned by discussions over the possible dissolution of the country.
“I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation,” said Buhari.
“Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble,” he said, adding that some ethnic violence was “fuelled by political mischief makers”.
Watch Buhari warning IPOB and others below:
