President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on an extended medical vacation in the United Kingdom, on Thursday hosted the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at the Abuja House in London.
“Very pleased to welcome the Most Revd and Rt Hon @JustinWelby, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Abuja House this afternoon,” reads a message posted by Buhari’s verified Twitter handle.
Very pleased to welcome the Most Revd and Rt Hon @JustinWelby, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Abuja House this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/jsRxeafVxM
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) March 9, 2017
Welby had defended Buhari in May 2016 when former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria and Afghanistan as “fantastically corrupt” in a conversation with the Queen ahead of an anti-corruption summit in London.
“We’ve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain… Nigeria and Afghanistan, possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world,” Cameron was overheard saying at an event to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday at Buckingham Palace.
Welby then intervened to say: “But this particular president is not corrupt… he’s trying very hard.”
Buhari left Nigeria for UK on January 19, handing over to Yemi Osinbajo as acting president.
The Presidency claims he could not return on the initially announced date of February 5 because of doctors’ advice that he waits for results of tests conducted on him.
While everything else points to the contrary, the government insists he is hale and hearty.
Among those who have been to London to see the president are Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
Others are former Lagos and Osun governors Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande respectively and Senator Daisy Danjuma.
Welby is the first non-Nigerian to visit Buhari in London.
