The Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi, has described the rate of the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari as a miracle.
Umahi, who is one of the seven governors that visited the President in London on Wednesday night, told one of our correspondents on the telephone from London, that he and his colleagues were surprised with the level of his (President) recovery.
Apart from Umahi, others governors in the entourage are Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Umar Ganduje (Kano); and Kashim Shettima (Borno).
Six of the governors were chosen based on the six geo-political zones in the country while the governor of Zamfara State was picked because of his position as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.
Umahi, who was one of the two governors from the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, said that it was difficult for members of the opposition to believe what they were being told by the handlers of the President that he was getting better.
He, however, said that he was happy, just like the other six governors, that the President was making progress and that he had improved very well.
The governor said the President would soon return to the country as soon as his doctors certified him alright.
He said, “We met a cheerful President whose level of recovery is a miracle. We know he will soon return home as soon as his doctors certify him to do so. What he’s treating is not mere malaria that we can say he will return today or tomorrow.
“However, we are happy and we thank God for what we saw. It is contrary to the pictures people are painting on the social media. The President we saw is recuperating well and we are happy for that.
“It is even better that, we as members of the opposition party, are among the entourage. Nigerians should continue to pray for the President. “
Asked whether the President told them the likely date of his return, he said no, adding that there was no need to be too expectant, saying that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), was doing a good job.
“We don’t need to panic because we have a hardworking acting President who is doing a fantastic job. All we need to do as Nigerians is to continue to pray for the President,” the governor added.
It was gathered that the governors had lunch with the President before leaving.
The Presidency later released some pictures showing the President in a conversation with the governors.
There was also a group picture showing Buhari standing with the visiting governors after the meeting.
Another picture showed the President with his wife, Aisha, and another unidentified lady on a sofa.
Ajimobi later wrote on his Twitter handle and Facebook page that the President received him and his colleagues warmly.
“My counterparts, the Governor’s Forum delegation and I were warmly received by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari in London, United Kingdom,” he wrote.
PUNCH