Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday shed light on why Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was left out of the delegation scheduled to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in London on Wednesday.
News of the visit broke on Tuesday with Fayose’s name conspicuously missing on the list of travelling governors.
The delegation is made up of Governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
Social media commentators queried the list, asking why the Ekiti governor, who is an unsparing critic of the President, was not included.
Replying to questions at an interactive forum with newsmen, which was also attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, Adesina said the choice of those meeting Buhari was the prerogative of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
He said: “The selection was by the Governors’ Forum and you will see that the delegation is headed by Governor (Abdulaziz) Yari, who is chairman of that forum.
“So that question should go to the forum.”
On why the governors are visiting the President, Shehu said: “The visit is a goodwill visit and there is nothing more than that.
“I believe Nigerians in various positions have yearned to go meet the President and at some point this obviously has not been permitted.
“But given the change in circumstances, you can see that is coming from London itself and from the President is welcoming.
“It is a goodwill visit.
“As a cultural people, we visit people leaving hospital and I’m sure the President himself will be delighted to see people coming from the six geopolitical zones, coming to convey the goodwill of Nigerians.”
The delegation is expected to leave on Tuesday night, arrive the UK in the early hours of Wednesday and have a 3pm meeting with Buhari same day.
