Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said he could not discuss President Muhammadu Buhari’s health status, noting that at the appropriate time Buhari will be able to discuss it, especially as he is currently running tests.
Buhari on Sunday wrote to the National Assembly, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.
The President had planned to resume at the office on Monday after a 10-day medical vacation in the United Kingdom, but a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said he was advised to complete a test cycle before returning.
Speaking with State House correspondents who approached him for a chat on Monday, Osinbajo said “before you determine your health status, you must be able to run the necessary tests, and do what doctors have asked to be done, and await the outcome of that before one can talk about any kind of health status.”
He, however, assured the nation that President Buhari is hale and hearty and would return home as soon as he completes the necessary tests recommended by his doctors.
“Let me first say the President is hale and hearty. I spoke to him just this afternoon and we had a fairly long conversation, he is in good shape and very chatty,” Osinbajo said.
He disclosed that the conversation was focused on the economy, the budget and goings on in the country.
Buhari, he said, was “interested in knowing about the budget process and how far we had gone especially with efforts aimed at taking the country out of recession.
“As you know we had a meeting today with the private sector on the economic recovery and growth plan and he was interested in knowing what was happening with that, with the economic recovery and growth plan and what we are doing with the private sector.”
“And of course I informed him of what we are seeing, the protest matches and some of what the feedback is, what people are saying about the economy and all of that,” Osinbajo added.
On when the President would return to Nigeria and his present health status, Osinbajo said “just as he has said in his letter to the National Assembly, he needs to go through a cycle of tests and once the test results are seen, he will receive medical advice. We should expect him very soon.”
The acting President also dismissed insinuations that he was under pressure to resign.
“I was voted for by the people of this nation, myself and Mr President, and the people of this nation have never asked us to resign.
“So, I am absolutely under no pressure, and the truth is that there has been absolutely no pressure from any source.”
