Buhari returns but VP will stay in charge until next week

President Muhammadu Buhari on today returned to Nigeria after nearly two months' medical leave in Britain but did little to quell fears about the state of his health by saying he would not start work again immediately.
The 74-year-old, who has been in London since mid-January, said that although he felt better, he still required rest and further treatment in the coming weeks.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would remain in charge at least over the weekend, he added.
Buhari, who looked gaunt in a billowing black kaftan, did not specify when he would resume his duties but his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said his return would be formalised on Monday.

He will write a letter to the National Assembly on Monday, Adesina said in a tweet, adding: "That makes his return to work formal, and constitutional."
Buhari's unspecified illness has been an increasing source of speculation in Nigeria ever since he left for London on January 19 for medical tests during a period of annual leave.

Aides had to counter persistent rumours online that he was seriously ill or even dead, despite a series of photographs showing him meeting senior Nigerian politicians.
On Thursday he was shown in photographs looking painfully thin at a meeting with the most senior cleric in the Anglican congregation, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

His office has maintained throughout his absence that Buhari was "hale and hearty".
But Buhari appeared to contradict that in a rambling address to ministers and senior members of his ruling All Progressives Congress party that touched on the importance of education and technological advances, and appeared to warn against the dangers of self-medicating.
He made no mention of what illness he was suffering from but said had thought he had received "the best of treatment I could receive".
"I couldn't recall being so sick since I was a young man," he added, referring to "blood transfusions, going to the laboratories and so on and so forth".

He was "pleased to be back", although he disclosed that he may need "further follow-up within some weeks", without elaborating.
Buhari's return from London was announced on Thursday evening and he said he "came back towards the weekend, so that the vice president will continue and I will continue to rest".
The presidency maintained the comment was light-hearted but was quickly followed by his spokesman's tweet clarifying the constitutional position.