[Mhiz Rebecca]

SaharaReporters has learned from sources at the
Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s
doctors have advised him to shelve the idea of
returning soon to the daily routine of running Nigeria
on account of the gravity of his illness . However , some
of Mr . Buhari’ s closest associates are goading him to
defy the doctors ’ recommendation and to take up the
reins of power once more in Nigeria.
President Buhari left Nigeria on January 19 on what
was supposed to be a 10-day medical leave . He has
since twice postponed his return date even as several
government officials and his close aides have
continued to characterize him as “ hale and hearty, ”
insisting that he was still vacationing and would soon
return to Nigeria .
However , our sources, who are well briefed about Mr .
Buhari ’ s health, disclosed that doctors managing the
president have been unequivocal in warning that his
condition would certainly deteriorate should he return
to Nigeria without completing the first stage of his
treatment .
According to one of the sources, the Nigerian
president ’ s condition has been downgraded to “full
blown illness ” even by members of his kitchen cabinet
who are now quietly admitting that he is “ill .” However ,
the ailing president ’ s closest associates remain averse
to disclosing to the Nigerian people the nature of Mr .
Buhari ’ s illness .
Saharareporters learnt that the president ’ s deteriorating
health has got to a point where doctors are taking
“ extreme measures ” to ensure that he eats. Mr . Buhari
has progressively lost weight due to his illness and
course of treatment, our sources disclosed.
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SaharaReporters learned that the pool of aides traveling
with President Buhari have extended their hotel
booking in London by at least one month starting from
February 6 th 2017. This means that the earliest Mr .
Buhari would make it back to Nigerian soil is in early
March.
However , our sources revealed that some members of
the president ’ s inner political circle continue to
pressure Mr . Buhari’ s doctors in the UK to allow him to
return to Abuja , even if for a short time , in order to
give the impression that his recovery was on course .
We understand that the UK doctors have so far
resisted the pressures , stating that it would be
professionally irresponsible of them to clear Mr . Buhari
at this stage to take up the demands of the
Presidency . “I understand that the doctors [in the UK]
have made it clear that Mr . President’ s flight back to
Nigeria could complicate things for him , ” one source
said .
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Another group of Mr . Buhari ’ s supporters have asked
the ailing president to authorize his doctors to address
the Nigerian people directly about his health situation .
However , members of the president ’ s inner cabinet
have staunchly opposed this disclosure , arguing that,
since Mr . Buhari had handed over to Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo , there was no need to make further
revelations since the VP has been vested with all the
constitutional powers to run Nigeria.
Some political figures, particularly governors of some
northern states, have been spending extending times
in London and making efforts daily to meet with the ill
president . However, such meetings with Mr . Buhari
have also become difficult to arrange since the ailing
president ’ s doctors have cautioned against his meeting
and smooching with visiting politicians, citing the
significant drain on his already low energy. “The
doctors have become very stern in restricting access to
him [President Buhari] , ” said one source . “As a result,
so many of the visiting politicians do not even get to
see Mr . Buhari before returning to Nigeria empty
handed , ” he added.
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As SaharaReporters earlier revealed, President Buhari ’ s
doctors in the UK have recommended that he would
need at least a period of four months away from power
to receive the full regimen of treatment for his several
health challenges . A source said the president was
undergoing therapy related to his prostate, declining to
be more specific . A different source disclosed that the
treatment had partially affected President Buhari ’ s
voice , at one point making it almost impossible to hear
him .
During the week , there were rumors in Abuja that
President Buhari would attend the inauguration of
President Adams Barrow in the Gambia. But one source
at the Presidency dismissed the rumor as “a ruse
raised by some members of a cabal who are
determined to see that their power is not whittled
down .”
Two of our sources disclosed that President Buhari ’ s
health issues were of a chronic nature , adding that it
was unlikely that the ailing president would ever be in a
position to meet the full demands of his office
whenever he returns to the country . “He is going to
need regular trips abroad for ongoing treatment, ” one
stated.