President Muhammadu Buhari has met with a national leader of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. President Buhari is in the holy land to perform Umrah, the lesser Hajj.
The meeting Monday, tagged “Iftar dinner meeting” by the presidency is coming few days to the inauguration of Buhari for a second term in office.
According to a statement by the spokesperson to Buhari, Garba Shehu, Tinubu used the occasion to appeal to elderly Nigerians to avoid inflammatory statements that could undermine peaceful co-existence among the nation’s diverse communities.
Also in attendance were the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and Emir of Kazaure, Najib Adamu.
He said the former Lagos State governor said all citizens should consider the enormity of challenges facing the nation, and support the president. He also said Tinubu urged Nigerians to rally round Buhari to solve problems and stabilise the polity.
“The President worked hard and will continue to do so to ensure peace and stability in the country, which are important for the economy to make progress. These are the key pegs of his agenda. Let us all come together to support him,” he reportedly said.
In his remarks, Sultan Abubakar reportedly pledged his support to the success of the President’s administration. The Sultan led prayers for President Buhari’s second term in office, and for the nation to overcome current challenges.
Other guests at the Iftar dinner were: Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Isa Dodo; the president’s nephew, Mamman Daura; Isma’ila Isa; Wale Tinubu; and Hakeem P. Fahm, who is the Commissioner of Science and Technology, Lagos State.
