Nigerian Newspapers on Wednesday, July 26, have focused on the health of President Muhammadu Buhari amongst other top stories.
The Punch reports that the Presidency, on Tuesday, said President Muhammadu Buhari had initially barred politicians and other individuals from visiting him in London, the United Kingdom, where he has been receiving medical attention since May 7.
It attributed the President’s change of mind to what it called “the change in circumstances.”
It said this was the proper time for him to receive delegations rather than when he was indisposed.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, disclosed this to State House correspondents at a press conference at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
READ ALSO: Official: 7 governors off to meet President Buhari in London (List, photos)
They addressed journalists alongside the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande.
They had confirmed Tuesday lead story that some state governors, drawn from both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, would visit Buhari in London.
When asked specifically to give the mission of the state governors, who will be meeting with Buhari on Wednesday (today), Shehu said, “The visit is a goodwill visit and there is nothing more than that.
“I believe Nigerians in various positions have yearned to go and meet the President and at some point, this obviously has not been permitted
“But given the change in circumstances, you can see that it is coming from London itself and the President is welcoming it.
“It is a goodwill visit. As a cultural people, we visit people leaving hospital and I am sure the President himself will be delighted to see people coming from the six geopolitical zones to convey the goodwill of Nigerians.”
The Punch newspaper for Wednesday, July 26, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The Guardian reported that there is uncertainty over the constitution amendment by the National Assembly as lawmakers disagreed on key issues in the exercise yesterday. Among them is whether to retain the position of the Land Use Act which vests control in the the Federal Government or reverse it in favour of the states. This became contentious when the Senate opened a debate on the constitution review yesterday.
Also, the issue of granting autonomy to local governments by scrapping the state and local council joint account as well as empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government polls generated a heated debate.
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Constitution Alteration Bill No. 32, 2017 as proposed by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review recommended the deletion of the Land Use Act.
The Guardian newspaper for Wednesday, July 26, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
Vanguard reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has written President Alpha Conde of Guinea, thanking him for the nationwide prayers held, last week, by Guineans for his recovery and good health.
Buhari in another letter to Conde also welcomed his (Buhari’s) nomination to lead African Heads of State in the fight against corruption, vowing to take up the duty with gusto once he got on his feet.
The letters came as seven governors, including two Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors left Abuja yesterday, to visit the President.
Vanguard newspaper for Wednesday, July 26, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
Thisday reported that President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter of appreciation to the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, for the nationwide prayers held last week by Guineans for his recovery and good health.
This is just as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Tuesday night dispatched seven governors to London to meet with Buhari, 48 hours after four governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leadership of the ruling party also met with the president.
Buhari, according to a statement by his chief spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, had earlier made a phone call to Conde, who is the current Chairman of the Assemblies of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
Buhari left Nigeria for the British capital 79 days ago to seek treatment for an undisclosed medical ailment.
ThisDay newspaper for Wednesday, July 25, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
The Nation reported that for the first time since he returned to London in May on medical vacation, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday spoke on his health.
He said he was “making good progress” and would soon “return to my duties”.
His message is contained in a letter to Guinean President Alpha Conde. In the letter, Buhari thanked Conde for last week’s nationwide prayers held in Guinea for his recovery and good health.
The July 24 letter, which was given to reporters in Abuja yesterday by presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, is a follow-up to President Buhari’s phone call to Conde, who is the Chairman of the Assemblies of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
The President wrote: “I thank you for your kind and thoughtful action in organising nationwide prayers for my good health. It is a gesture that I will forever cherish and treasure.
“Your Excellency will be pleased to hear that I am making good progress and as soon as doctors advise, I shall return to my duties and continue serving the Nigerian people who elected me and are daily praying for my recovery.”
The Nation newspaper for Wednesday, July 26, photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com
In the video below, NAIJ.com TV asked some Nigerians what they have to say about President Buhari’s absence away from the country for so long.