Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s unannounced trip to the United Kingdom last week has caused disquiet among several bigwigs in his All Progressives Congress (APC) as it is the first clear signal that the President- Elect is a man of independent thinking determined to govern the Buhari way.
Sources informed THISDAY Newspaper that not only did the President-Elect choose not to inform the party’s leadership of his intending trip, he travelled to the UK with only 2 Personal Assistants, Seriki Abba and a Mr Tunde . He was received at the door of the aircraft by High Commissioner Sarki Tafida and rode in the embassy official car to his usual central London holiday flat booked by his brother having rejected the hotel booked by the High Commission.
His friend and backer of several decades, Mamman Daura was already waiting for him at the flat and they both drove in company of Seriki Abba to No 10 Downing Street to meet with British Prime Minister, David Cameron where they discussed issues ranging from security to corruption and the immigrant crises facing Europe. Unlike his Chatham House visit with several APC bid wigs, this was done without their knowledge and the President Elect clearly needed his Buhari time.
But once APC chieftains got wind of Buhari’s departure, quite a few of them comprising the party’s National Leader, Bola Tinubu and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi scurried off to the UK in hot pursuit of Buhari.
Indeed, Amaechi was so eager to meet with Buhari in the UK, he elected to fly in the Economy cabin of Lufthansa Airways since his last minute booking could not get him a First or Business Class seat.
Buhari, who has now elected to stay on in the UK till tomorrow night before returning within 24 hours of his inauguration as Nigeria’s next president, is said to be giving his party leaders sleepless nights.
Sources say they are rather concerned that Buhari’s penchant for keeping issues close to his chest and relying more on his old friends and backers from the North could alienate other critical members of the party who worked hard for his victory at the polls.
The First Lady is off Limits
Once a photograph of Oando Plc’s head honcho, Wale Tinubu and the incoming First Lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari sitting next to each other onboard a helicopter on the way to the Oshiomhole wedding went viral, her husband Muhammadu Buhari could not help but show his displeasure.
Buhari, an austere disciplinarian and devout Muslim, THISDAY gathered, summoned his wife and read the riot act to her on her public comportment, especially as she prepares to mount the saddle as first lady, a post he never really wanted under his administration.
Once Tinubu learnt that he had rubbed Buhari off the wrong way by allowing the photograph to find its way to the social media, he was also said to have run to those close to the retired army general to plead for Buhari’s pardon.
It is uncertain if Tinubu, who is one of several Nigerians – along with his partner Mofe Boyo – who are said to be eying the post of Petroleum Minister under the incoming administration, has made any headway with the ambition as indications are the Buhari intends to keep the Petroleum Ministry within the Presidency.
