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.
They have both 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 reported.
Another Presidency official said that the President is expected to join his wife next week.
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.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said that ongoing renovation work was
hindering Buhari from moving into the Presidential Villa.
He 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.”
