Buhari not in London for talks with Jonathan, NDA—UK Gov

The United Kingdom, UK, last night, cleared the air on reports suggesting that President Muhammadu Buhari was in London to meet with his predecessor for a secret meeting to stave off ongoing militants’ attacks on oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.


The position of the British Government was contained in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja, Wednesday night. In the statement by the Press Officer in the British High Commission in Abuja, Mr. Joe Abuku, London said there was no truth whatsoever in the several reports claiming that Buhari was attending the meeting with former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in London under the guise of seeking medical attention.

Abuku said: “Reports suggesting that the British Government has set up a meeting with President Buhari, former President, Jonathan, and representatives of Niger Delta groups to discuss a solution to recent violence in the Niger Delta region are incorrect. “We are aware that President Buhari is currently in London seeking medical attention.

We are not aware of any meetings on the Niger Delta while he is there.” Some of the reports had claimed that it was in preparation of the secret meeting in London that Buhari ordered the Nigerian military to observe a two-week ceasefire with the militants before travelling out.

The Presidency, in a statement, said Buhari would be away for 10 days to seek medical attention over an ear-related ailment.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in an interview with Vanguard, acknowledge the letter sent to the National Assembly by Buhari to travel to London for medical attention, saying that it was in order.

Saraki said: “The letter clearly stated that the President will be away for 10 working days to attend to his health. If a doctor that attended to you can refer you to another doctor. “That happens to an ordinary person not to talk of the President of a country. I do not blame the doctor that attended to him. He needs to be careful. He wants to share responsibility. He is also being over cautious.”