A coalition of civil society groups led by famous entertainer, Charles Oputa, on Monday demanded the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical leave in London, saying he should resign if he cant resume work immediately.
The protesters, who were stopped by armed security men at the Presidential Villa junction in Abuja stayed to display their placards, grant press interviews and make speeches.
They also called on the National Assembly to invoke Section 144 sub-section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution and set up a medical panel to determine the President’s health status.
The National Coordinator, Foundation For True Freedom and Good Leadership, Deji Adeyanju, accused the lawmakers of supporting the President and a ‘cabal’ around him to hold the the country to ransom.
“The leadership of the National Assembly must choose between the Nigerian people and the cabal. Ninety days is too long for a president to be away from his country without any explanation to the people that voted him into office.
“If Buhari has become incapacitated, he should do the honourable thing and resign because he cannot continue to hold the country to ransom; his absence in the country is being exploited by a cabal to loot the treasury.
“We hereby demand that the National Assembly invoke Section 144 sub-section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution and direct the setting up of a medical panel in conjunction with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to ascertain whether the President is incapacitated or not,” he stated.
A member of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, said the Federal Executive Council should disclose to Nigerians the nature of Buhari’s illness.
He criticised the nation’s leaders for keeping silent over the absence of the President for three months, noting that their inaction was not good enough.
“It is unfortunate that the leaders of the country are keeping silent over the absence of the President. The guardians of the nation are supposed to speak up and set things right, but they have kept sealed lips and that is why the youths are marching today to demand the return of Buhari or the disclosure of the nature of his illness by the FEC,” Atoye stated.
The protesters defied early morning showers and marched from the Unity Fountain, Maitama to the Presidential Villa junction to demand the return of the President to the country.
The protesters were seen singing and dancing the revolutionary songs of late Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Other leading participants of the protest are the Publicity Secretary, #OurMumuDonDo Movement, Adebayo Raphael, and Secretary of Concerned Nigerians, John Danfulani.
The protesters said they will continue to hold simultaneous rallies in Nigeria and London on a daily basis until their demands are met.
