Vice President Kashim Shettima has visited former President Muhammadu Buhari in London, Daily Trust learnt.
The former president, who is ill and undergoing treatment in an undisclosed London hospital, was reportedly placed in intensive care in the early days of his admission but is said to have come out of the critical condition and is now recuperating well.
A credible source privy to the development told Daily Trust that
Shettima flew to London penultimate Sunday night and checked up on the former president the Monday morning.
The source added that Shettima also visited former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar during the same trip.
When contacted about the visit and why it was not made public, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said the Vice President did actually travel to London, but that it was a totally private visit.
Anxiety over Buhari’s health
On Monday night, there were apprehensions over the state of health of the former President with speculation rife that his health might have deteriorated.
Daily Trust made spirited efforts to speak with the former President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, but he did not respond to our reporter’s inquiries.
However, in the early hours of Tuesday, Malam Garba replied to an sms sent to him and said: “The information available to me is that he (Buhari) is in a recovery mode..
Since then, much has not been heard from the camp of the former President until news of the recent visit by Vice President Shettima.
Buhari’s health history
While in office as President between 2015 and 2023, President Buhari then had a history of medical checkups mainly outside the country.
His health has also been a subject of intense debate owing to his status as the number one citizen at the time.
After assuming office in May 2015, Buhari spent over a hundred days outside the country in 2017, specifically in London due to an undisclosed ailment.
He also made further medical check-up trips to London in 2018 and 2021.
Garba Shehu’s intervention
Following enquiries, a former media aide to the former president, Mallam Garba Shehu, ealier confirmed that Buhari was hospitalised in London.
He wrote: “Following your inquiry, I wish to state as follows: It is true that the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, is unwell. He has been receiving treatment in the UK,” Garba Shehu said.
“You would recall he made it known that he was going for his annual medical check-up. He became ill there, but I am happy to announce to you that he is doing well in his recovery while receiving treatment. We pray for his healthy recovery.”
Buhari not critically ill – Ahmad
Also speaking on the development, a former aide to ex-President Buhari, Mr. Bashir Ahmad, debunked the reports that the former president was critically ill and fighting for his life in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Ahmad, who was the Special Assistant on Digital Communications to the former President, made the clarification in a post on his verified X handle, saying the claims were exaggerated and misleading.
“In light of the recent media reports suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari is critically ill and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we find it necessary to set the record straight,” Ahmad wrote.
He explained that though Buhari was unwell and receiving medical care, the situation was far from what some reports have portrayed.
“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.
Ahmad expressed gratitude for the support and prayers the former President received in the period.
“We appreciate the outpouring of prayers and goodwill from his supporters and well-wishers around the world. We continue to pray for his complete and speedy recovery,” he added.
The former president has long maintained a private and low-profile life in Daura, Katsina State, as well as in Kaduna, and occasionally travels abroad for routine medical check-up.
DAILY TRUST.
