President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently receiving medical treatment.
Reports indicate that the former president has been unwell for some time, though he is said to be on the mend.
Vice President Shettima had recently travelled to Ethiopia to attend the launch of the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. During his visit, he explored the country’s agricultural advancements. However, shortly after the event, President Tinubu was informed that Buhari had been admitted to a hospital in London.
In response, Tinubu, who had planned to travel to St. Lucia, instructed Shettima to divert to London to personally check on Buhari’s condition and report back. During the visit, Shettima conveyed the President’s well-wishes and offered prayers for Buhari’s speedy recovery.
While in London, Shettima also paid a visit to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is also recuperating after undergoing medical treatment. Abdulsalami, 83, is remembered for overseeing Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule in 1999 when he handed power to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
When contacted by The Nation, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), confirmed that Shettima made a private visit to the UK but did not provide further details. “It was an entirely private trip. I didn’t have access to his itinerary,” Nkwocha stated.
Following reports of Buhari’s health challenges, his aide, Ahmad, clarified the situation, dismissing media exaggerations. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he confirmed Buhari was receiving treatment but assured the public of his improving condition.
“It is true that former President Buhari is unwell and is currently receiving medical attention. However, contrary to the exaggerated claims circulating in the media, he is stable and responding well to treatment, and we are optimistic about his full recovery,” Ahmad wrote.
