President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to London Sunday night for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina disclosed this in a press statement on Sunday.
According to Adesina, President Buhari had planned to leave Sunday afternoon, but decided to wait due to the arrival of 82 Chibok girls who arrived Abuja earlier in the day.
“The President wishes to assure all Nigerians that there is no cause for worry. He is very grateful for the prayers and good wishes of the people, and hopes they would continue to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.
“The length of the President’s stay in London will be determined by the doctors. Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership of the Vice President.
“President Buhari has transmitted letters about the trip to the Senate and the House of Representatives, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution,” Adesina stated.
Tag: London
-
Breaking: Buhari off to London for medical consultation
-
May’s Conservatives gain seats in British local elections
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives gained seats in Friday’s early results from local elections in Britain, while Labour, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Liberal Democrats all lost seats.
After declarations from around 1,000 of the nearly 5,000 seats in Thursday’s elections, the Conservatives had gained more than 100, Labour had lost about 60 and UKIP had lost all of the 30 seats it held at the previous elections.
Turnout dipped below 30 per cent in some of the polls, which followed last year’s Brexit referendum and a general election in 2015, and will be followed by another general election on June 8.
Polls were held for 88 of the 418 local councils in Britain as analysts watched for clues on how the country could vote in the general election.
Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, a former business secretary in a coalition government with the Conservatives, told the BBC the Conservatives were profiting from “taking on board the agenda as well as the former voters of UKIP.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Defence Minister Michael Fallon said the early results were encouraging but voiced concern that the Conservatives could have “peaked too soon” for the general election.
Political analysts cautioned that big gains in the local elections would not necessarily herald the large parliamentary majority that May hopes to win in the general election.
May has asked voters to back her “strong and stable” leadership of the country and her plans for Brexit negotiations with EU leaders.
-
Queen Elizabeth celebrates 91st birthday
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, celebrated her 91st birthday in a usual low-key fashion on Friday.
Artillery gun salutes in London’s Hyde Park and at the Tower of London will mark the occasion although the queen, who normally spends her birthday privately, has no formal engagements planned herself.
Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926 in Bruton Street in central London when Calvin Coolidge was U.S. President and Joseph Stalin had just taken control in the Soviet Union and became queen in 1952 at 25.
Inspite of her age, she still regularly carries out official duties although she has cut back on the number of engagements in recent years, passing these onto other members of the Windsor family such as to her son and heir Prince Charles and grandsons, Princes William and Harry.
Polls show she remains very popular amongst Britons and royal aides say there is little prospect of her abdicating.
Asked if she was well during a trip to Northern Ireland in 2016, she quipped “Well, I’m still alive”.
The queen has an official birthday in June which is publicly marked with a large parade of soldiers through central London, known as Trooping the Colour.
-
Stan Rerri plans Lagos, London 50th birthday
Stan Rerri is one man who appears to have struck a lasting covenant with the good life. Armed with a well-cultivated mind to go with his opulent lifestyle, Stan enjoys the attention of elite minstrels and sups in the halls of kings.
A king in his own right, especially in the hospitality sector, the world is his oyster and joyful is his song. With just over a month to his 50th birthday, Stan has accomplished in half a lifetime what many of his contemporaries spend all their lives striving to do before they sank into their graves.
Ahead of his birthday on May 14, he has set the machinery in motion for a remarkable celebration. Invited guests will be treated to a lavish two-legged shindig in Abuja, Nigeria, and Dorchester, Parklane, London, United Kingdom respectively.
-
Buhari going back to London for check-up, says Presidency
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Thursday said that the plans for President Muhammadu Buhari to return to his doctors in the United Kingdom for follow-ups is still intact.
On arrival in the country on March 10 after about 50 days medical vacation in the UK, President Buhari had disclosed that he will return to London after few weeks for followup on his treatment.
But some media reports claimed that instead of going to back to London for the followup, the President had decided to bring his doctors to Abuja.
Mallam Shehu debunked the report while speaking with journalists in Abuja.
According to him, it was not true that Buhari had decided to bring his doctors to Nigeria instead of returning to London..
He said, “It is false news (that Buhari is no longer going to London). We are not aware of the reported advance movements.
“The last time the President spoke about this, he said he would return to his doctors after some time.
“We are not aware that this has changed,” Garba stated.
-
Int’l friendly: Iheanacho’s late goal earns Nigeria draw against Senegal
Kelechi Iheanacho on Thursday in London scored a late goal to deny the Teranga Lions of Senegal a famous victory against the Super Eagles in an international friendly.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an 82nd minute penalty kick scored by Iheanacho helped Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw in their friendly encounter at the Hives Stadium.
Moussa Sow had given the Teranga Lions an early second half lead in the 53rd minute, but they could not hold on for a victory over the Super Eagles.
Senegal were dominant in the midfield, with Idrissa Gueye presiding over it all with calm and quality.
But Sow upfront was far less mobile than Mane, and looked very ordinary until Daniel Akpeyi dropped a 53rd minute corner kick into his path for the opening goal.
Iheanacho did get two glorious chances to score, scuffing a shot across the goal from 18 yards, and then somehow prodding wide from point blank range.
He managed to redeem himself with 10 minutes to go, gliding onto a through-ball before being brought down by Pape Ndiaye, and rising to convert the penalty kick for the equaliser.
It was probably deserved, if only for Iheanacho’s persistent running.
He might even have won it with a snapshot wide in stoppage time, but neither side really did enough to win the game, or to entertain the sparse crowd.
When Sadio Mane came on, replacing debutant Opa Nguette, he earned the largest cheer of the night, bringing more excitement than either goal.
While he may not have actually contributed much on the pitch, it was the Liverpool man alone who provided any buzz around the Hive.
The Super Eagles will now look forward to their next friendly game against Burkina Faso in four days time.
-
EU to hold Brexit summit on April 29
The European Union’s 27 leaders will meet on April 29 to agree their negotiating lines for Brexit talks after London sends in a formal notification that it wants to leave the bloc, the chairman of the summit, Donald Tusk, said on Tuesday.
The meeting is a necessary step before the negotiations between Britain and the 27 remaining EU states can start formally.
London said on Monday it would send in its exit notification on March 29.
“In view of what was announced in London yesterday, I’d like to inform you that I will call a European Council on Saturday, April 29, to adopt the guidelines for the Brexit talks,” Tusk told reporters.
“You know I personally wish the UK hadn’t chosen to leave the EU, but the majority of British voters decided otherwise.
Therefore we must do everything we can to make the process of divorce the least painful for the EU.”
The unprecedented talks are due to run for two years, though many diplomats and officials admit it would probably take longer.
“Our main priority for the negotiations must be to create as much certainty and clarity as possible for all citizens, companies and member states that will be negatively affected by Brexit, as well as our important partners and friends around the world,” Tusk added.
NAN recalls that the meeting will be held exactly one month after Britain officially notifies the EU of its intention to leave the bloc.
The U.K. on Monday announced that it will trigger Article 50 and officially begin divorce talks on March 29.
The formal triggering will take the form of a letter from May to Tusk, Downing Street said.
May’s spokesman declined to give further details of the content of the letter, but senior government officials familiar with the government’s thinking expect it to set out a “positive” vision of the future relationship Britain wants with Brussels after Brexit, including a comprehensive free-trade agreement.
-
‘Basira in London’ comes to Nigerian
A new comedy movie, ‘Basira in London’ is set to hit Nigerian cinemas from March 24, 2017.
The movie which was produced and directed by London-based Philippa Abraham, was first premiered in the United Kingdom in August, 2015 to a sold out crowd in all of its six showings at the Odeon Cinemas.
‘Basira in London’ is a comedy-drama that tells the story of an African woman (Eniola Badmus) who relocates to London with great expectations. She is struck by the culture clash and her efforts in trying to fit in makes the movie hilarious.
Other actors that starred in the movie include Jason Adedeji-Abraham, Destinee Anthony, Tolu Yesufu, and Theodora Ibekwe-Oyebade.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Abraham said, concerning the Nigerian premiere of ‘Basira in London’.
“This movie was first premiered in 2015 at the Odeon Cinemas, UK and since then the Nigerian audience have been waiting. I am so excited that finally, everyone in Nigeria will also get to see the beautiful film.”
Since ‘Basira in London’ premiered in the UK, the movie has won several awards including the Best Producer, African Film Awards UK, Best Movie, BEEFTA UK Awards, Best Actress, BEEFTA UK Awards and Best Producer, BEEFTA UK Awards.
Abraham began her creative journey in 2008 after bagging her BA (Hons) in Digital Film Making from Middlesex University, and garnered experience in making short films, documentaries, music videos and feature films. Currently, she’s in pre-production for her next feature film.
-
McGregor is all bark and bite-Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather sent a message to mixed martial arts champion, Conor McGregor on Tuesday to stop ‘barking’ and find some ‘bite’ after months of talk about a crossover fight between the two.
Speaking after announcing an IBF world super-featherweight title bout in London on May 20 between his defending protege Gervonta Davis and Britain’s Liam Walsh, Mayweather suggested McGregor was all talk.
“Conor McGregor is blowing smoke up everybody’s ass,” the 40-year-old unbeaten and now-retired former world champion told Reuters.
“He doesn’t really want to fight. If he really wants to fight, sign the contract.
“This is what I’m going to do: I’m going to get a contract typed up tonight. I’m going to sign it and I’m going to fax it over to Conor McGregor and see if he’s going to sign it,” he added.
Mayweather said he did not know if the fight would happen and gave no details about what he would put in any contract he might draw up and accused the Irishman of “disrespect”.
“He’s barking, he’s barking, he’s barking,” he said. “Once you get the paperwork and sign the contract, then you bite.
“Right now you’re just barking.
“He got famous off my name, these fighters keep doing this,” added the American.
“Filipino multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao did the same thing. He got famous off my name. Stop that shit.”
McGregor has been challenging Mayweather, who retired in 2015 with a 49-0 record, to a fight for months.
The two sides have yet to reach terms, while doing their part to drum up interest with plenty of media barbs, with some major hurdles to overcome.
Mayweather has asked for a guaranteed $100 million to make the fight happen, with $15 million going to McGregor, while UFC president Dana White has talked of $25 million to each plus pay-per-view money.
McGregor, the biggest pay-per-view draw in mixed martial arts, is contracted to UFC and the organisation would have to approve any fight.
Mayweather was more amused about reports that one of his cars, branded with his ‘The Money Team’ insignia, had been broken into and set alight during a visit to Birmingham last Saturday.
“My automobiles are all in the U.S,” said the five division world champion. “But I like the story because it was all around the world.
It was good press. So thank you.”
The super-featherweight fight at London’s Copperbox arena in May features unbeaten 22-year-old champion Davis, who has won 16 of his 17 fights by knockout, against 30-year-old British, Commonwealth and European champion Walsh.
Mayweather hailed Davis as one of the most exciting young fighters in America, and said his promotional company planned to bring three more shows to Britain this year.
-
I’m praying for you, Obasanjo tells Buhari
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has assured President Muhammadu Buhari that he is praying for him to return home soon from London.
Obasanjo spoke with Buhari on phone when the President called on Sunday from London to felicitate with him on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Obasanjo, during the telephone conversation, also wished Buhari good
health.He said that he stands together with him in prayers, so that he can return
soon to continue the good work he is doing for the country.President Buhari told the former military ruler (1976 to 1979) and democratically elected president (1999 to 2007) that a time like this provides opportunity to reflect on Obasanjo’s invaluable roles and contributions to the unity and cohesion of Nigeria, the brotherhood of all Africans, as well as peace and
amity over the globe.Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi
Adesina, also described the former president as “a true citizen of the
world.”Recalling their days in the military, President Buhari said: “Those of us
who served under you in various capacities recall a man with boundless
energy, with razor sharp mind, and one who does not suffer fools gladly.
Working with you was a school in itself, and the lessons learnt are worth
their weight in gold.”