Vice President Kashim Shettima has visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at a London hospital, where the ex-leader is receiving medical treatment.
The visit was made on the instruction of President Bola Tinubu, who reportedly asked Shettima to personally deliver a message of goodwill and check on Buhari’s condition following reports of his illness.
Sources revealed that Shettima’s visit was not originally part of his schedule but was arranged after Tinubu received news of Buhari’s declining health.
The 81-year-old former president is said to be battling an undisclosed medical condition. While no official diagnosis has been made public, those close to him maintain that he is stable and gradually recovering.
At the time of Tinubu’s request, Shettima was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he had been invited by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to take part in the launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.
However, the Vice President had to cut short that visit and travel to the United Kingdom on Sunday night, arriving in London early Monday morning.
“The president felt it was important to reach out personally and show concern for his predecessor’s well-being,” a presidency source shared with journalists.
Upon arrival, Shettima went straight to the hospital where Buhari is receiving care. During the meeting, he delivered President Tinubu’s personal message and gave verbal support on behalf of the Nigerian government. Sources familiar with the visit say the gesture was well received by Buhari and his aides.
Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s media aide, confirmed the London trip but said he could not speak on the reason behind it. “Yes, he was in London,” Nkwocha stated. “But I am not in a position to speak on why he went there. The Vice-President doesn’t always disclose his travel plans in full.”
Buhari’s absence from the public eye in recent months has sparked concern, especially after Empowered Newswire reported that he was undergoing treatment abroad. The report led to widespread speculation online about the seriousness of his health condition.
To calm the rising anxiety, Bashir Ahmad, a former Special Assistant on Digital Communications to Buhari, made a statement on social media.
“I can confirm that Baba (Buhari) is receiving treatment, but his condition is not as grave as some people are making it out to be,” Ahmad wrote. “He’s stable and improving.”
Many political watchers believe Tinubu’s move to send Shettima might not only be out of concern but could also help strengthen political ties with Buhari’s northern support base, especially as discussions about the future of the All Progressives Congress (APC) begin ahead of the 2027 elections.
Since leaving office in May 2023, Buhari has stayed away from the spotlight. He initially retired to Daura, Katsina State, before later relocating to Kaduna. His limited public appearances over the past six months have only added to public curiosity.
