Written by Leon Usigbe and Clement Idoko - Abuja
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan returned to
Abuja on Sunday night from London, saying
that he was too tired from the six-hour flight
and his health challenge to meet with G-7
governors as scheduled for Sunday night.
He also confirmed to State House
correspondents that he has received the
report of the Administrative Panel headed by
Head of Service, Isa Sali, to probe the
circumstances surrounding the purchased of
bullet proof cars approved by the Minister of
Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.
The panel was set up on September 23 and
given two weeks within which to submit its
report.
Jonathan also dispelled speculation that
some ministers disappeared from the venue
of Nigeria Honourary International
Investment Council (HIIC) in London to
which he had led a federal delegation to in
London, noting that the ministers that were
supposed to participate in the programmes
performed their duties in full.
The president, whose plane touched down at
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja, at about 7.05pm, told waiting State
House correspondents that the meeting with
the group of aggrieved Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governors would now hold
during the week.
He was confident that all the issues in
contention would be resolved as he observed
that they were members of the same party
who would continue to discuss their affairs.
The president thanked Nigerians for their
concern for his ill health while he was away
in London and also for their goodwill on his
56th birthday even though he did not
celebrate the occasion.
Fielding questions from reporters, he said: "I
have to thank Nigerians and especially on
the issue of my health, I really had some
health challenges. I have to thank God again
because of the concern shown by Nigerians.
Thank God that I am very okay to resume
work, I believe, from this night."
On whether he would still meet with the G-7
governors, he remarked: "I don't think I will
be able to hold any meeting. You know six
hours flight is quite a distance and also
following my health challenges but we will
meet."
Asked how soon the meeting would now take
place, he said:
"I don't know I am just coming in. I believe
within the week, we will be able to meet.
Politics is about discussion. We belong to the
same political party. Even people from
different political parties engage in political
discussion and political discussion is a
continuous process.
"Even during election people discuss. So, we
will continue to discuss."
While confirming the receipt of the report
on the Aviation Minister, President Jonathan
noted: "The committee I set up, they have
submitted their report."
Also speaking on media report on ministers
not staying for the HIIC meeting, the
President explained: "All of them performed
very well. I think there is some kind of
misconception. The Honorary International
Investors Forum meets two times in a year,
one in Nigeria and one outside Nigeria,
sometimes it in London, in most cases it is
London. The last time it was France or so.
"Ministers are not meant to sit throughout
the period. Ministers are meant to go and
make presentations. Even in Nigeria, the
only person that normally sits throughout is
the Minister of Trade and Investment that
warehouses the HIIC.
"Some ministers don't normally sit for two
days. In a day, you may not see a minister. If
a minister is meant to make a presentation
on the second day, is not that for the two
days, you will expect all the ministers.
"Because I read some of the perception in
the media, that the Minister of
Communications Technology was not there
on Thursday, the Minister of Petroleum was
not there on Thursday. They were not meant
to make presentations on Thursday. They
appeared on Friday and made their
presentations.
"Even in Nigeria, I even sit more in the
meeting because it is a group that advises the
president. If I'm not there, the Vice-President
takes over. Myself or the Vice-President,
Trade and Investment Minister, CBN
Governor, Economic Adviser, Finance
Minister, Planning (minister) are the ones
who stay more.
"So, there is no issue about ministers. People
make a lot of insinuations out of nothing," he
declared.
On how serious his illness was, the President
responded: "The most important thing is that
I am back. You will expect that when you are
holding a political office as the president of a
country, anything that affects you attracts a
lot of attention.
"So, that the President is sick alone, even if
you don't know the ailment, definitely it will
cause apprehension."
The president was received by a welcome
party led by the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius
Anyim; Chief of Staff, Mike Ogiadomhe and
ministers, including Bala Mohammed (FCT),
Edem Duke (Culture and Tourism), Viola
Onwuliri (Foreign Affairs), Emeka Wogu
(Labour and Productivity), the Inspector
General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.
President sacks Aisa Umar as aide
President Jonathan has relieved Mrs Aisha
Umar of her appointment as Senior Special
Assistant to the President.
Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,
conveyed this in a statement in Abuja on
Sunday.
The statement signed by his Special Assistant
on Media, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, said the
disengagement is with effect from
November, 2013.
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