Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, is reportedly heading to the United Kingdom on a private visit, the presidency’s Twitter account confirmed. The Twitter post did not reveal any other information about the trip. He will be away till May 5, reported BBC.
Notably, Mr. Buhari, who won re-election in February, has been facing health issues since the time he took office in 2015. The 76-year-old traveled to the UK for three months in 2017 on medical leave. Details of his medical condition were never made public. As per media reports, it is the 11th such visit in four years, with most of them being for medical reasons.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties called on President Buhari to disclose the reason for his 10-day private trip to the United Kingdom. They said it was wrong for the President to head to a journey without offering a reason to the Nigerian people.
During an interview with The Punch, Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of the PDP, said it was improper for the President to travel with public funds without disclosing any information about his movements.
He said it would be wrong for the President to allow Nigerians to be speculating on whether he was attending to his health or not.
“The President is not traveling as an individual,” said Secondus. “He is traveling as the President of Nigeria who was elected by Nigerians in 2015 to lead them.”
He pointed out that Buhari has chosen to use a presidential jet for his UK journey that is being maintained by taxpayers. So, Nigerians are going to be responsible for his welfare and the welfare of those who are going with him.
Secondus said the President should tell Nigerians about his itinerary in the UK and disclose if he is going on holiday or for medicals.
