Buhari scheduled to return to Nigeria today after London vacation punctuated with anti and pro-government protests

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to return to Nigeria today following his recent vacation in the UK that has just ended in controversy with anti and pro-government protests outside his London residence.

On August 3, President Buhari left Nigeria for London, explaining that he was going to the UK for a 10-day holiday. In line with the dictates of the constitution, he wrote to the National Assembly, informing legislators that he is handing over the reins of power to vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

Since then, Professor Osinbajo has been serving as acting president but with the 10 days lapsed and no sign of President Buhari, it has been rumoured that the president intends to extend his holiday. However, presidency officials have denied this and yesterday, presidential spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu confirmed that President Buhari will arrive back in Nigeria later on today.

Mallam Garba said: “The president is expected back in the country tomorrow. For now, I can’t confirm the exact time he will land but protocol officials will alert us on time ahead so that we can move to the airport to receive him but he will definitely arrive in the country on Saturday.”

Over the last week, President Buhari's visit has generated a lot of controversy with protesters picketing outside Abuja House in London where he is staying calling for him to either resign or return home. Yesterday, members of the UK chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held a counter-demonstration, praising President Buhari for combating corruption and steering Nigeria in the right pact.

Led by Dr Philip Ideawor, the chairman of APC UK, the demonstrators said those criticising the president are just unhappy with his fight against corruption. Justice George Oguntade, the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK, also addressed the gathering, saying that today, diasporans in the UK are proud to be Nigerian.