President Buhari returns from UK

After 10 days of private visit to the United Kingdom, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday returned to Nigeria.

The President’s aircraft landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Sunday.

At the airport to receive him included the Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari, some ministers, including the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammed Bello and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Others are were the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Muhammed Adamu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu and other presidential aides.

Buhari had on April 25 proceeded to the UK on a private visit after he inaugurated some projects executed by the Borno Government.

Meanwhile, Presidency called on those it described as ‘apostles of evil imaginings’ to swallow their words and retract their ‘tendentious stories’ insinuating that President Buhari was to be hospitalised during his private visit to London.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, stated on Sunday while he was reacting to the return of President Buhari from London on Sunday.

He further condemned those online media outfits that reported that the president would not return to Nigeria on April 5 as originally planned.

”Some reckless online media, irresponsible political opposition, and other bilious groups and individuals, had gone on overdrive since the President left the country on April 25, insinuating that he was going for hospitalization, and would not return after 10 days as stated.

”In their vain imaginations, they even stated that fictive doctors have advised President Buhari to stay longer for more intensive care.

”Now that the President has returned, can these apostles of evil imaginings swallow their words? Can they retract their tendentious stories as well as press statements, and apologize to millions of Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora that they have fed with hogwash?

”Few days after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, we daresay that this valuable freedom does not tantamount to liberty to mislead and hoodwink the populace through concocted and jejune publications.”

The presidential aide, however, reiterated that the Buhari administration would continue to respect and uphold press freedom.

”The Buhari administration will always respect and uphold press freedom, but the onus lies on those prone to passing off fiction as facts, to remember that freedom demands concomitant responsibility.

”Those who further share and disseminate falsehood are also encouraged to embrace responsible conduct,” he said.

Buhari has travelled to the UK five times for medical care since he assumed office on May 29, 2015.

He has been battling an undisclosed ailment.