President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday attributed his recent recovery from an undisclosed ailment to a divine act of the almighty God.

He made the remark in Daura, Katsina State, when he received Daura Elders Committee, an association of farmers, businessmen, youths, elders and politicians from Katsina in his country home.

President Buhari also said he returned back to the country with renewed hope and strength to pursue policies that will improve the livelihood of the people and reposition Nigeria for good. “My recent convalescence is a divine act of the almighty God.

“Considering the challenges we are facing as a nation, we have been doing our best to provide sustainable solutions, and we will keep doing our best.

“I am happy you came here today, and I am thankful for all the prayers. You are leaders of various groups at the grassroots, and you are closer to the people so you understand these problems as well. We need your support,” Buhari told his visitors.

Leader of the group of associations, Zannan-Daura, Alhaji Sani Ahmed Daura, said the president’s return signalled God’s interest in turning around the fortunes of the country.

“On behalf of all the elders here, we are grateful to God you returned alive, and in good health,’’ he said. Daura, a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, said the president’s life of patience, endurance and contentment was exemplary, praying that God would give him more strength and wisdom to lead the country.

Earlier, President Buhari received the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman and his entourage.

Buhari has been on holiday in his home town Daura to observe the Eid-El-Kabir festivities.

He recently returned from London where he spent 104 days on vacation on account of his ill health.

His return and eventual public broadcast had elicited diverse reactions from Nigerians with some assessing his speech to have fallen below expectations.

Since his return, he has taken a number of steps to douse tensions that arose from the various regional blocs, where some favours restructuring and others opting for separate state.

The president is, however, expected back in Abuja anytime soon to pilot the affairs of the nation.

Buhari Medical Vacation

Although President Muhammadu Buhari’s first active year in office which was from May 29, 2015 to 2016 was frost with some minor challenges, especially delays associated with appointing his cabinet members, the frustrations and criticism that greeted it left much to be desired. No sooner had he sorted out some of these issues to settle down to business of governance came his health challenges.

The first time he took vacation to undergo medical check-up in London, United Kingdom was in February 2016.

He left the shores of Nigeria for the United Kingdom for a six-day vacation from

February 5 to February 10, 2016. After a formal letter was written to the National Assembly leadership he transferred powers to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had explained that the letter to the National Assembly was in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian constitution. The spokesperson had assured Nigerians of the well-being of the president and the need not to panic over the state of his health.

He had hinged the vacation on the need for the president to take a break from work as he had worked non-stop for eight months and could break down like every other person.

On January 19, 2017, shortly after resolving the leadership crisis in The Gambia, where Yahaya Jammeh was recalcitrant to hand over power to his successor, President Buhari fell ill again and had to leave the country on another vacation.

As usual, he wrote Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, before bidding Nigeria goodbye to examine his health on January 23, 2017 to be precise.

Nigerians were sympathetic and in fact showed understanding that the president needs to take care of his health issues so that he could function maximally as the nation’s leader.

However, when the 10-day medical leave began to extend to several weeks, rumours began to fly over the actual date of his return, deepening suspicions that his health was far worse than officials were publicly admitting.

Finally, on March 9, 2017, the president returned to wild jubilations in some parts of the country and to the relief of Nigerians.

Despite attempts by his spokesmen to conceal his health challenges, Buhari revealed to Nigerians when he came back that he had never felt “so sick” in his entire life.

Upon returning, his absence in public functions, including skipping the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings gave room for more speculations, prompting concerned Nigerians to suggest he take another leave to rest more and recover fully.

Upon return, he said, “I deliberately came back towards the weekend, so that the Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo) will continue and I will continue to rest. All I will need is to do further follow ups within some weeks.”

Having weighed options available to him and sensed that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was doing well in governance of the country, Buhari jetted out again, shortly after he took inventory of 82 school girls abducted by the dreaded Boko Haram sect in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014.

He left on Sunday, May 7, 2017 and has spent about 94 days undergoing medical care also in the UK.