Intelligence reports suggests that President Mohammadu Buhari's sudden return last Saturday may have been forced ahead of his planned arrival by pressures from UK intelligence and security reports over planned protest at Abuja House in London by Diaspora Nigerians.
There had been enfeebled campaign outside the Abuja House, London, despite growing angst and anger at the long stay of Nigeria's number one citizen in the foreign land for over 105 days.
As learnt, President Buhari is not fully recovered from whatever treatment he underwent in the UK, which, as he admitted through his presidential aides, has necessitated his continued stay in London until his doctors certify him okay to return.
Planned return by the president had been put, tentatively at between September 1 and 4 of this same month. As also gathered, the dates were fixed to coincide with Nigeria's World Cup qualifying fixtures with Cameroon. The hope is that the soccer fiesta would keep the Nigerian public engaged and may not be too keen about monitoring Nigeria's President's return.
INDEPENDENT reliably gathered that the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA, had intercepted scrap information suggesting that 'money and logistics' have been mobilized to have Nigerians converge at the Abuja House in London to continue a sustained protest. The source of the information is not clear.
But the logistic movements were said to have happened after recent picketing by the 'Resume or Resign' campaigners were halted in Abuja, the country's capital.
As recalled, Charles Oputa, aka Charlie Boy showbiz impresario, social critic and model, had led the campaign. He was both tear gassed by police and attacked by lynch mobs but was rescued by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.
A day after the conveners ended the protest, sustained mobilizations began in the UK to get Nigerians to come out to protest the continued stay of President Buhari in London for treatment of undisclosed ailment.
The UK police, anticipating the protest had placed a cordon at the Abuja House in London to keep the protesters at safe distance of the diplomatic house.
But UK security agencies, especially the Metropolitan police of the country had become worried over the gathering. This was on account terror threats and fears currently pervading UK and other European countries.
As learnt from the newspaper's London sources, the UK authority reportedly prevailed on federal government to have the ailing but recuperating President Buhari moved back to Nigeria or Saudi Arabia.
The newspaper was also informed that initial plan of President Buhari was to return to the country between September 1 and 4 of the same month.
-Culled from The Independent Nigeria
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