Determined not to sleep in Abuja on Tuesday in his first return to the Federal Capital city since he handed over power, former President Muhammadu Buhari avoided attending a dinner at the Villa where Chief Bisi Akande was being celebrated on his 85th birthday.
QUEST TIMES had earlier reported a plan where both leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Buhari would dine in the Aso Villa on Tuesday after the launching of the books on his time in office, but the former president who flew into Abuja on Tuesday left for the airport right from the venue of the event and returned to Daura same day.
The planned dinner which was then enlarged and repurposed to celebrate the founding Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande who turned 85 on Tuesday went on at the Villa on Tuesday.
Although the former President was informed, he apologised and said he had to return to Daura that day.
President Tinubu and Buhari met in Abuja at the official unveiling of two books titled “Working with Buhari (2015–2023)” by Femi Adesina and a five-volume book titled “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy – 2015–2023 (Vols 1-5),” edited by Dr. Udu Yakubu.
Credible sources said there has been a tense relationship between Ministers and aides who served during Buhari’s tenure and those currently working with President Tinubu.
Loyalists of the former president are indignant with the remarks made by some of President Tinubu’s appointees and the manner the Tinubu administration has been allegedly investigating some of them.
They pointed to the statements made by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser who, in November last year said Tinubu inherited a bankrupt country from Buhari, and Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy who said the Tinubu administration inherited a bad economy when it came to office in May 2023.
Buhari’s loyalists also pointed to the investigation of the CBN and arrest of its former governor, Godwin Emefiele, the invitation of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ongoing review of the activities of Senator Hadi Sirika, former Aviation Minister over the Air Nigeria scandal.
President Tinubu himself had said at the book launch on Tuesday that he inherited both assets and liabilities from Buhari.
Our correspondent gathered that the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu recently paid a visit to Buhari in Daura in a move to downplay the tension and give the impression that all is well.
Having confirmed that Buhari will be coming for the book launch, the presidency made plans for him to have dinner with President Tinubu at Aso Villa.
“Buhari however surprised them when he said he will not pass the night in Abuja but would return to Daura that same day. Immediately after the book launch, he headed straight to the airport and went to Katsina”