4 APC,2 PDP Govs Meet President in London
President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he will return to Nigeria as soon as his doctors advised him to do so. Buhari has been receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom since May 7, while some people have alleged that the president’s health has deteriorated beyond recovery.
But on Sunday, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) paid him a visit in London. Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha who was part of the delegation, also said that the president was in good spirits, saying that he would return to the country in due course. The presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, has also disclosed that Buhari has thanked the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, who is the current chairman of the assemblies of heads of state and government of the African Union, for the nationwide prayers held last week by Guineans for his recovery and good health. Adesina stated this in a statement made available on Tuesday in Abuja.
Buhari, who had earlier made a phone call to Conde, had in a letter dated July 24, 2017, expressed gratitude to the people of Guinea for their prayers. The statement quoted Buhari as saying that :
“I thank you for your kind and thoughtful action in organising nationwide prayers for my good health.
It is a gesture that I will forever cherish and treasure.
“Your Excellency will be pleased to hear that I am making good progress, and as soon as doctors advise, I shall return to my duties and continue serving the Nigerian people who elected me and are daily praying for my recovery.” According to the statement, Buhari had, in an earlier letter, accepted his nomination as leader of the ‘2018 AU theme on the fight against corruption’, which came from African leaders at the 29th session of the assembly of heads of state and government of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 4.
“While thanking you for the kind words and for the nomination, I wish to express my readiness to accept this new important role and to reiterate my commitment to contribute towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent. I, therefore, look forward to working closely with you in the realisation of this objective,” Buhari added. In a related development, six Nigerian governors are expected to leave Nigeria for London to meet Buhari.
The governors are from four APC states and two from the PDP controlled states who are expected to depart Abuja last night based on an invitation by the President. They are scheduled to hold a meeting with Buhari at about 3pm today. Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, disclosed this during an interactive session with state house correspondents in Abuja. According to Shehu, Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, will lead the delegation.
Other members of the delegation are two PDP State Governors: Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); four APC State Governors: Kashim Shettima (Borno); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Umar Ganduje (Kano) and Samuel Ortom (Benue). Shehu however dodged a question on why Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose was excluded. He simply said,
“It is a goodwill visit and there is nothing more than that.” The Daily Times recalls that Fayose has been very critical of Buhari. Fayose had last month alleged that the president was placed on a life support machine for 20 days and also threatened to release shocking images of Buhari.
The six governors’ visit to London is coming two days after some ministers, governors and leaders of the ruling APC held a meeting with Buhari. At the end of the meeting, Governor Okorocha,who was part of the delegation said:
“By our visit to London today, the merchants of lies have been put out of business and Nigerians will not buy the garbage they have been selling.”
