President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly shunned Nigeria’s official UK Residence (Abuja House) in order to avoid the crowd of Nigerian protesters who have mobilized to the venue.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the president is currently in the United Kingdom to attend the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2021-2025.
Some protesters have told SaharaReporters that Buhari was not sighted at the Abuja House, raising suspicion that the President had diverted to a private mission.
This newspaper reports that Buhari’s trip outside the shores of Nigeria has always been greeted with massive protests from Nigerians in the diaspora.
Aside from the summit, Buhari will also use the opportunity to see his doctors for an earlier scheduled medical check-up.
The details of the President’s trip were made available in a statement on Monday by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.
The President is expected back in Nigeria in the second week of August 2021.
According to Adesina, “The Summit, which will be co-hosted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, and the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, will bring together Heads of State and Government as well as stakeholders and youth leaders, and provide a platform for partners to chart a way forward towards transforming education systems in partner countries, through exchange of best practices.
“It will also offer the opportunity for leaders to make 5-year pledges to support GPE’s work to help transform education systems in up to 90 countries and territories.
“Deliberations at the Summit will focus on: The Power of Education –A Conversation between Global Champions; Transforming Education for Girls; Financing for Impact and Recovery and; What Now? Priorities for Transforming Education in the Coming Five Years, among others.
“President Buhari will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.”
Adesina added that “the President will spend a few days for an earlier scheduled medical check-up. He is due back by second week of August, 2021.”
President Buhari was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.