Almost two
months after he returned to the country from his medical trip to London, United
Kingdom, President Muhammadu Buhari has yet to return to his office inside the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
But the
Presidency says the situation has not in any way hindered the President from
performing his duties.
Buhari, who
arrived the country on August 19 to a wild jubilation by Nigerians after
spending over 100 days abroad, has been operating from an office located inside
his official residence and another one located inside the Presidential Banquet
Hall.
The Senior
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had
said the President’s office needed renovation because of its devastation by
rodents during his long period of absence.
“Following
the three-month period of disuse, rodents have caused a lot of damage to the
furniture and the air conditioning units,” he had said, explaining that it was
impossible for the President to operate from the office in that condition.
Although
he said he could not tell when the renovation would be completed, the
presidential spokesperson had stated that the maintenance company had been
asked to speed up its pace of work.
However,
56 days after the President’s return to the country, he has yet to resume in
his office.
His
residence and the Presidential Banquet Hall, where he operates from are less
than five minutes’ walk from his office.
The
President has been hosting meetings and other events in the two venues. This week
alone, he held separate meetings with some state governors and the nation’s
security chiefs at the venues.
Governors
that met Buhari during the week included Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State;
Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State and Abiola
Ajimobi of Oyo State.
The
President has also been attending weekly meetings of the Federal Executive
Council inside the Council Chambers located less than 50 metres to his office.
Buhari has
also been joining Muslim faithful for Juma’at service inside a mosque located
behind the Council Chambers.
When
contacted on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said where Buhari has been operating from are also
offices.
Adesina
said the most important thing is that the President is working.
The
presidential spokesman was, however, silent on when Buhari will resume in his
main office.
“Office na
office. He (the President) uses one now, and the work goes on,” he simply said.
Punch correspondent
had sought to know from him the stage of the renovation in the President’s
office; if there is any truth in the claim that Buhari does not plan to return
to his office anytime soon; and when exactly he would return.
- Punch
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