In move to silence doubters, Buhari invites PDP govs, others to London

Speculations that another delegation of political leaders including some PDP governors would be visiting President Buhari in London have been confirmed.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed this during an interactive session with State House correspondents on Tuesday.

He said the meeting which will hold by 3pm on Wednesday, will see seven governors in attendance, in honour of an invitation by President Buhari. The Seven governors will depart the country tonight.

Shehu added that Governor Abdulaziz Yari  of Zamfara state will lead the delegation.

Other governors in the delegation are Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Umar Ganduje (Kano) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

Read also: Released photo of Buhari an insult to Nigerians, says PDP

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who was also part of the briefing, said the selection of members of the delegation was done by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

He dismissed the insinuation that Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, a fierce critic of Buhari’s who has also claimed that the president was on life support, was deliberately sidelined from the trip.

“The selection was not done by the government. It was done by the Governors’ Forum and you can see that the delegation is headed by Gov. Yari, who is chairman of that forum,” he said.

“So, that question should then go to the forum”, he added.

Adesina said that the president preferred the option of receiving small delegations to addressing the nation via a broadcast.

Speaking on the two newly confirmed minsters-designate, Adesina said they would soon be sworn in. The senate had only recently issued an ultimatum to the Acting President to swear in the ministers-designate, arguing that their respective states were not being represented in the Federal Executive Council, against the intentions of the constitution.

This visit comes two days after a delegation of leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) held a meeting with the president in London.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now