SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, (THEWILL) – President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari arrived in London, United Kingdom, Friday afternoon, for a private visit, according to people familiar with the development.
Buhari departed for London on Friday morning onboard a British Airways flight from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. There was no official statement from his media handlers prior to his departure.
The President-elect was billed to attend an inauguration Jumat prayers session at the Abuja National Mosque, as part of his inauguration programme scheduled for May 29, 2015. He was represented by Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Shehu Garba, the spokesman for the Buhari campaign later said in a statement.
The 72+ years old Buhari’s last private visit to London was in February after the postponement of the general elections, where he told an audience at London’s Chatham House that had a medical and was declared fit to proceed with electoral campaigns.
As at press time it wasn’t clear when Buhari would return to the shores of Nigeria. Mr. Garba did not respond to our phone call to seek additional information on the president-elect’s trip.
Update:
Below is a statement issued on Friday night by Buhari’s media team
PRESS RELEASE
Buhari On Private Visit To Britain
Abuja, Nigeria, 22 May 2015: The President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 22 May left for Britain on a private visit, his first such trip outside the country since winning the March 28th presidential election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by its head, Malam Garba Shehu, the Media Team of the President-elect said General Muhammadu Buhari will use the opportunity of the visit to take a much-deserved rest ahead of his inauguration on May 29th.
”He is expected back in the country a few days before the inauguration, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running once he is sworn into office,” he said
Signed:
Garba Shehu
Directorate of Media & Publicity
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari Media Team
