President Buhari in plea for Nigerian unity

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has addressed
the nation following three months of medical leave in
the UK.
In a televised speech, Mr Buhari, 74, said he was
"distressed" by calls for the dissolution of Nigeria,
urging Nigerians to come together.
But the president failed to disclose his illness. It was
his second spell of medical leave this year.
Many Nigerians had called for him to resign during his
absence, saying he was unfit to run the country.
Others have called for more transparency over his
condition, as speculation grows over whether he will be
fit to seek a second term in 2019.
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Vice-President's Yemi Osinbajo has been in charge
during his leave but Mr Buhari has now officially
resumed his duties as president.
Speaking two days after his return, Mr Buhari said that
comments around the dissolution of Nigeria had
"crossed national red lines".
"Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable," he said.
"We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start
trouble."
The president also made reference to ethnic violence
in the country, blaming "political mischief-makers".
Ethnic tensions - with some calling for a separate state
in the south-east known as Biafra - surfaced during his
leave, while the war against the Islamist militant group
Boko Haram continued in parts of the north.
Calls for Biafran independence 50 years on
Stephanie Hegarty, BBC News, Lagos
Nigerians were hoping to find out just what's wrong
with the president - to get some clarity on the mystery
illness that had him absent from his job.
But it seems the presidency intends to keep Mr
Buhari's condition a secret.
They may have trouble convincing the public to believe
the line they've been touting for months that the
president is "hale and hearty". He was visibly thin and
frail as he greeted politicians on Saturday.
He has made some sort of recovery - in his last public
appearance before he left in May, when he greeted the
82 released Chibok girls, he was barely able to stand.
On Monday, the president was eager to show that he is
ready to take the reins again.
But the address will fail to answer the question on
many people's minds - does this ailing 74-year old man
have the energy to lead?
Back when Mr Buhari first went to London - in June
2016 - his office said it was for a persistent ear
infection.
An official statement released in March 2017 -
following a longer spell away - said that the president
ad been on "vacation, during which he had medical
check-ups".
His main opponents in Nigeria's 2015 election had
claimed he had prostate cancer - which he denied.
Buhari's unhealthy year
19 January: Leaves for UK on "medical vacation"
5 February: Asks parliament to extend medical leave
10 March: Returns home but does not resume work
immediately
7 May: Travels to UK for further treatment
6 June: Buhari's wife says he is "recuperating fast"
19 August: Buhari returns to Nigeria
Africa's 'medical tourist' presidents

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