President Muhammadu Buhari smiled as he posed for photographs with the seven governors that met with him in London on Wednesday.
This is the second time in 80 days that the pictures of the president would be released to the public. The president’s wife was also seen in one of the pictures that went viral online yesterday.
Though the visit was at the instance of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) details of the conversation between Buhari and the governors has however not been made public at the time of filing this report.
The governors who visited the president are Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Kashim Shettima (Borno).
This is the second time in four days that governors from the country will be visiting the ailing president at his residence in London.
On Sunday, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha was joined on the trip to visit Buhari by Governors Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; Yahaya Bello of Kogi, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun.
Okorocha in a telephone chat said the delegation had over an hour conversation with Buhari, who he said was apparently ‘following in the country very closely’.
“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. All those who look up to fake news can find better use of their time,” Okorocha who doubles as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors was quoted to have said after the visit to Buhari.
…president’s illness has taken a toll on his health – Gov
One of the state governors who met with Muhammadu Buhari in London yesterday said he was delighted to see the president after so many weeks of uncertainty but he admitted that his health has taken its toll on him.
The governor who pleaded anonymity said the delegation of seven governors found Buhari to be “much better shape than earlier speculated,” and in full control of his faculties. “Yes, the illness had a taken a toll on his health,” he said, describing Buhari’s walk as “okay” if his advanced age is factored in.
On the president’s speech, “I did not notice any remarkable change in his voice,” the governor declared.
He said he and his colleagues enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at Buhari’s residence before their departure but did not clarify whether the president participated in the meal, or how long they were with him.
“We met one of your correspondents hanging around the gate asking questions on whether the President is going to return home in two weeks,” he said of SaharaReporters.
The governor further said that members of his delegation believed Buhari should follow the advice of his doctors and not be stampeded into rushing back home.
“After all, he has left the country in a very capable hand, fiercely loyal, competent, cerebral and unambitious,” he said, referring to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
President Buhari is thought to be suffering from cancer, but he has refused to disclose his diagnosis.
