The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has relocated to
the Presidential Villa, Abuja, barely three weeks after President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration was inaugurated.
Since
they were inaugurated, Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo have been
operating from outside the Presidential Villa. This
is despite the fact that both men have their official residences and offices
inside the Villa.
Both
of them have been operating from their private residences as well as the
Defence House, official residence of the President-elect located at Maitama
District, Abuja.
It was gathered that Mrs. Buhari formally relocated to the Presidential
Villa on Thursday at a time when her husband was out of Abuja. “Hajia
(Buhari) arrived here (Presidential Villa) with her entourage at about 6pm on
Thursday. She had relocated ahead of her husband. She passed the night here,” a
Presidency official told our correspondent on Friday.
As
of the time our correspondent visited the First Lady’s Wing of the Presidential
Villa on Friday, some exotic cars were seen parked in front of the premises, an
indication that Mrs. Buhari was playing host to some guests.
Another
Presidency official told our correspondent that the President is expected to
join his wife inside the Presidential Villa on arrival from his local trip.
Buhari
had departed Abuja for Kaduna on Tuesday shortly after he arrived from South
Africa where he took part in the just-concluded 25th Assembly of Heads of State
and Government of the African Union. He
proceeded from Kaduna to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State. Buhari
is expected back in Abuja from the journey described as “private trips” this
weekend.
“The
President is expected back this weekend. He will be expected to join his wife
here on his arrival,” the source added. Upon
his formal relocation to the Presidential Villa, Buhari is expected to operate
for the first time from his office on Monday. As
of the time of filing this report, Osinbajo and his wife have yet to relocate
to the Villa.
It
was not clear whether they will move in at the same time with Buhari. The
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba
Shehu, had told our correspondent that ongoing renovation work was hindering
Buhari from moving into the Presidential Villa.
He
had said, “As far as the President is concerned, the place (his official
residence) is not ready yet. Workers are cleaning and refurbishing the place.
Once the exercise is completed, the President will move in.”
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