- Title: Nigerians split on effect of Buhari's continued absence
- Date: 4th July 2017
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (JULY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER STAND/PEOPLE LOOKING AT HEADLINES VARIOUS OF MAN READING NEWSPAPER VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS DISPLAYED (SOUNDBITE) (English) CIVIL SERVANT, UWANAH UDOH, SAYING: "The absence of the president does not really affect the economy negatively, because he has an acting president who is acting very well in his capacity. If you look at the sectors of the economy where we are having problems in the Niger Delta, today our Niger Delta problem is gradually being resolved." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRADER, OGBONAYA KANU, SAYING: "It will affect the economy and everything, you understand, when the head is not there the body will be sick entirely, that's it. So nothing is moving, nothing is working, to be honest." VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, EZE ONYEKPERE, ADDRESSING PARTICIPANTS AT A WORKSHOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, EZE ONYEKPERE, SAYING: "Of course the president hasn't being the best manager of the economy even when he was around, so I don't think much has been missed in terms of economic policy direction, rather we seem to have had a little bounce when the acting president took over with the executive orders and reduced tension in the polity, because it appears every time we have the president back, the tension in the polity shoots up, so I believe that not much is being missed." VARIOUS OF RADIO PRESENTER SPEAKING INTO MICROPHONE IN THE STUDIO HAND ON PHONE SCROLLING THROUGH MESSAGES (SOUNDBITE) (English) RADIO PRESENTER, LOVE FM ABUJA, GRACE ABBA, SAYING: "When we talked about the absence of Mr. President, it was so alarming at the number of people who called in and expressed their dissatisfaction, the fact that they have not being able to see their president, the fact that they have also not being able to hear from Mr. President. They say it is worrisome, others used the word, 'it's disturbing' and others say they are not so sure the stance of the country considering the fact that there are so many agitations from left, right and centre." STREET SCENE
- Embargoed: 18th July 2017 08:34
- Keywords: Nigeria Buhari Health Economy
- Location: ABUJA, NIGERIA
- City: ABUJA, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016OAX2DJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Many residents in Nigeria are frustrated over their President Muhammadu Buhari's continued stay in Britain for what his office has described as medical tests, but others said on Monday (July 3) his absence has not affected the economy.
The ailing president left Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on May 7 and handed over power to his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo. It is his second period of medical leave this year, following an absence from January which lasted nearly two months.
Officials have refused to disclose details of the 74-year-old's condition. The president's wife Aisha Buhari said last month that the former military ruler was "recuperating fast", but is set to visit him, arriving in London on Tuesday (July 4), her spokesman said on Monday.
Buhari reduced his working day to a few hours each day after returning to Nigeria from his first stint of medical leave on March 10. The president was not seen outside of the presidential villa in Abuja before travelling to Britain again in May. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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