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WORLD NEWS Saturday 11 March 2017

Nigeria president returns after weeks on medical leave

BASHIR ADIGUN cope with poorly funded
Associated Press health care. “I have re-
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Ni- ceived, I think, the best of
gerian President Muham- treatment I could receive,”
madu Buhari returned to Buhari said Friday.
the country on Friday after Others in Nigeria suggested
a medical leave of a month that Osinbajo, a 59-year-
and a half that raised ques- old lawyer and pastor who
tions about his health and handled matters in Buhari’s
some calls for his replace- absence, should stay on
ment, but he made clear and lead the country, one
that whatever was ailing of Africa’s largest econo-
him was not yet over. mies and top oil producers
Buhari told reporters that A statement Thursday from
Vice President Yemi Osin- special adviser Femi Ad-
bajo would remain in esina said Buhari’s “holi-
charge of Africa’s most day” had been extended
populous nation over the on doctors’ recommen-
weekend as he rested, and dations for further testing
he revealed the first details and rest. It gave no details
of his health condition, in- about the health of the
cluding blood transfusions. president.
He hadn’t been so sick in Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, right, is welcomed by Nigeria Vice President Yemi Osinba- The statement also said Bu-
decades, he said. jo, left, upon arrival from his medical vacation in Abuja, Nigeria. Friday, March 10, 2017. Nigerian hari expressed apprecia-
Photos of his arrival in the President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country on Friday after a medical leave of a month tion for Nigerians who have
capital, Abuja, showed the and a half that raised questions about his health and some calls for his replacement, but he made “prayed fervently” for him
clear that whatever was ailing him was not yet over.
lanky president smiling and (Sunday Aghaeze/Nigeria SH via AP) during his absence.q
walking without assistance.
“I feel much better now,” said it was for routine medi-
Buhari said. “I have rested cal checkups and that he
as much as humanly pos- would return in early Febru-
sible.” ary.
He said he would have Instead, the 74-year-old
“follow-up” in the coming remained out of sight for
weeks. Sahara Reporters, a weeks while anxiety rose in
New York-based Nigerian Nigeria, which is grappling
news agency, reported with crises including Boko
that Buhari indicated he Haram extremist attacks
would return to London for and an economy that last
more treatments. year contracted for the first
Few details had been re- time in a quarter-century.
leased about Buhari’s Some expressed anger at
medical leave in London. taxpayer-funded treat-
When he left Nigeria on ment for top officials over-
Jan. 19, the government seas while people at home
5.5 quake hits south Caribbean

region; no damage is reported

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao at a depth of a little more
(AP) — A 5.5-magnitude than 6 miles (10 kilometers)
earthquake has shaken offshore from the city of La
the southern Caribbean off Vela de Coro.
the coast of Venezuela but The quake was felt as far
caused no reported dam- away as the Venezuelan
age. capital of Caracas, as
The U.S. Geological Survey well in Aruba, Curacao
said the earthquake hit Fri- and other nearby islands.
day morning just before 10 It followed a smaller earth-
a.m. local time about 40 quake that occurred in the
miles (60 kilometers) south- same region before dawn
east of Aruba. It occurred on Friday.q