By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday left Abuja for his hometown, Daura in Katsina State, in what his office described as a “private visit.”
He will be away from the seat of power for one week.
There was no prior notice of the visit and the news was not broken until the president had safely landed in Katsina.
Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who disclosed this in a statement titled “President Buhari in Daura on week-long private visit,” said Buhari will undertake private engagements while in Daura.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari is in Daura, Katsina State for a week-long private visit.
“The aircraft carrying the President from Abuja landed at 4:45pm on Friday at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina where he was received by the Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, his deputy, Mannir Yakubu, senior government officials and the heads of security agencies in the state.
“In Daura to receive President Buhari at the helipad were the Emir, His Highness Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, leading the members of the Emirate Council and a parade of colourful horse riders and courtiers.
“Shortly upon disembarkation, the President received the gift of a horse and a decorated sword in his capacity as Bayajiddan Daura from the Emir.
“While in Daura, President Buhari will carry out a number of private engagements but is expected to participate virtually in the meeting of the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday, to be presided over by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
“The President last visited his hometown in December 2019, having stayed away largely due to the global COVID-19 situation.”
