National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari iin Aso Rock on Sunday, where they subsequently held a meeting behind closed doors.
At the end of the meeting, Tinubu while addressing newsmen, said he was at the presidential villa to thank the president for visiting him in London where he sought medical treatment.
“I came to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for visiting me in London when I had a knee surgery. He demonstrated empathy. He is an exceptional leader,” he said.
There has been reports that the APC duo had fallen out with each other following Buhari's unwillingness to honor a deal reportedly reached between the two, which would see Tinubu emerge as Buhari's successor in 2023.
Buhari in an interview with Arise Television back in June 10, 2021, Buhari said “You cannot sit there in Lagos, for instance, and decide the fate of APC on zoning. Therefore we should allow the party to decide.”
Buhari's statement is believed to have angered Tinubu who played a major role in Buhari's emergence as president in the 2015 presidential election, and had hoped Buhari would reciprocate the gesture after completing his second term in office, in 2023.
Another issue likely to have been discussed during the visit, is the public release of photos by the presidency following Buhari's visit to Tinubu in London, where Tinubu was seen supporting himself with crutches.
According to a report by SR, a source close to Tinubu said, Tinubu and his aides weren't happy with the presidency over the viral photos.
“Tinubu and his people are not happy that President Buhari brought NTA (Nigerian Television Authority- government-owned station) and others to visit him.”
“When Lagos governor, (Babajide) Sanwo-Olu and (Abiodun) Faleke (federal lawmaker) visited him, nothing revealed he had a surgery or was sick. But the way Buhari had his photo ops handled by the Villa was not what he (Tinubu) bargained for.
“They felt betrayed that such pictures showing him with a walking stick would be released. Note that all the pictures were released by the Presidency, ” the source stated.