Buhari misses pre-inauguration prayers, flies to London on same plane with Dieziani

There was anxiety at the National Mosque yesterday in Abuja over the absence of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari at the special Juma’at prayers to mark the beginning of the week long activities leading to his inauguration on May 29.

The President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 22 May  left for Britain on a private visit, his first such trip outside the country since winning the March 28th presidential election.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the President-elect’s Media Team, Mallam Garba Shehu said;

''Buhari left for Britain on a private visit. He will use the opportunity of the visit to take a much-deserved rest ahead of his inauguration on May 29th. He is expected back in the country a few days before the inauguration, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running once he is sworn into office,'' he said.

It may be interested to note here that the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and Petroleum Minister, Dieziani Alison-Madueke were on-board the same British Airways plane heading to London.

Alison-Madueke was billed to travel next week Tuesday May 26th and had already bought her ticket but on hearing that the President-elect was heading to London today, she asked that her ticket be fast-tracked so she can perhaps have some audience with Buhari.