FORMER President, Muhammadu Buhari is currently receiving medical care at a hospital in London, multiple sources confirmed to News Point Nigeria on Friday, amid growing concerns over his health.
And in a show of solidarity, President Bola Tinubu reportedly instructed Vice-President Kashim Shettima to fly to the UK to personally deliver a message of goodwill and assess Buhari’s condition.
According to sources, Shettima’s visit was not originally planned but came as a result of Tinubu’s direct request following reports that the 81-year-old former president had been battling an undisclosed illness.
Buhari’s current health concerns have reignited public attention, though sources close to him maintain that he is in a stable condition and gradually recovering.
Vice-President Shettima was originally scheduled to remain in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he had been invited by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to attend the launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, an ambitious reforestation campaign.
However, sources told News Point Nigeria that President Tinubu, who was on a separate state visit to Brazil for BRICS, asked his deputy to cut short his Ethiopian engagement and fly to London to visit Buhari on behalf of the Nigerian government.
“The president felt it was important to reach out personally and show concern for his predecessor’s well-being,” one presidency source told this newspaper.
Shettima reportedly departed Addis Ababa on Sunday night and arrived in London early Monday, heading straight to the unnamed hospital where Buhari was being treated.
There, he delivered Tinubu’s message of goodwill, and according to sources familiar with the visit, he also conveyed assurances of continued support during the recovery period.
Though there has been no official statement from the Presidency, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima’s media aide, confirmed that the Vice-President indeed traveled to London but declined to comment on the purpose of the visit.
“Yes, he was in London,” Nkwocha said, “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.”
Speculation about Buhari’s health had intensified after Empowered Newswire first reported that the former president was undergoing treatment.
The reports triggered a flurry of online speculation, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the silence from official channels.
Amid the growing concern, Bashir Ahmad, a former Special Assistant on Digital Communications to Buhari, took to social media to debunk exaggerated claims about the former president’s condition.
“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 said.
“He’s stable and improving.”
Ahmad’s reassurance appeared aimed at calming the public, especially supporters of the former president in northern Nigeria, who have long viewed him as a symbol of integrity and northern political strength.
Tinubu’s decision to send Shettima could be seen not just as a diplomatic gesture but also as a political olive branch to Buhari’s camp, amid ongoing debates over the direction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) post-2023.
Political analysts note that the visit could also signal Tinubu’s intent to maintain a cordial relationship with Buhari and northern political elites, especially at a time when intra-party dynamics are shifting ahead of the 2027 elections.
As of the time of filing this report, no photos or official press releases had been issued about the meeting between Shettima and Buhari.
However, insiders at the presidency say that President Tinubu is expected to personally speak to Buhari once he returns from his Caribbean tour.
Buhari, who retired to Daura, Katsina State after completing his second term in office but later moved to Kaduna, and he has kept a low public profile since May 2023 and has made few public appearances in the last six months.