President Bola Tinubu has reportedly sent Vice President Kashim Shettima on a discreet mission to London to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the UK.
According to THISDAY, Shettima’s London trip followed reports that Buhari had taken ill and was undergoing treatment.
The Vice President was earlier in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the launch of the Green Legacy Initiative, before receiving Tinubu’s directive to proceed to London.
A reliable source revealed, “As soon as President Tinubu got wind of Buhari’s admission to a London hospital, he cancelled plans to travel to St. Lucia and asked Shettima to visit the former president and report back.”
The source further disclosed that Shettima arrived in London in the early hours of Monday, conveyed Tinubu’s goodwill message, spent time with the former president, and even connected both leaders on a phone call.
The Vice President also reportedly paid a visit to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who is also said to be recuperating in London.
News of Buhari’s illness had generated public concern, prompting his former media aide, Bashir Ahmad, to clarify the situation via X (formerly Twitter).
“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.”
While the presidency has remained largely silent on the trip, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), confirmed that Shettima had visited London but stressed the visit was “purely private.”
He said:
“Yes, the VP was in London but on a purely private visit and came back to Nigeria the same Monday. Since it was a private visit which I was not privy to, his engagements or lack thereof would remain in the realm of speculation.”
The development has rekindled public attention to Buhari’s health, which was a regular subject of national discourse during his presidency, most obviously during a 104-day medical stay in London.
