President Bola Tinubu has reportedly sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to London earlier this week to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
According to sources, Shettima was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to attend the launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, when Tinubu instructed him to divert to London after learning about Buhari’s health condition.
Former President Buhari, 81, was recently reported to be ill and undergoing treatment abroad. While some reports claimed he was in intensive care, his former aide, Bashir Ahmad, denied the severity, stating Buhari was stable and responding well to treatment.
“In light of the recent media reports… it is true that former President Buhari is unwell… however, he is stable and responding well to treatment,” Ahmad wrote on social media last week.
Sources said that Shettima arrived in London early Monday and spent time with Buhari, delivering Tinubu’s message of concern. The two leaders were also said to have spoken over the phone during the visit.
The Vice President reportedly also visited former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is also recovering in London.
When contacted, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Vice President, confirmed Shettima’s London trip but described it as a “private visit.” He said he could not confirm if the Vice President met with Buhari or Abdulsalami.
Buhari’s health has remained a subject of public interest, dating back to his time in office when he spent long periods abroad for medical reasons, including a notable 104-day stay in London during his presidency.