APC Chieftains and Governors visits President Muhamamadu Buhari in London According to a report by Guardian Nigeria , it cost taxpa...
APC Chieftains and Governors visits President Muhamamadu Buhari in London
According to a report by Guardian Nigeria, it cost taxpayers in Nigeria a whopping N50 million for nine governors; both from All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party, including the APC chairman, John Oyegun and Aviation Minister Rotimi Amaechi to visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London who has been on medical vacation in London since May 7.
The report while analysing more details further revealed that the same amount could have been used to pay for the West Africa Examination Council fee of over 4,000 candidates in Kogi or Zamfara State, or build at least two blocks of 10 classrooms in Oyo State.
Also, the estimated amount spent by six governors who left yesterday to see Buhari in London led by the Zamfara governor who is the chairman of the Governors Forum is said to cost $9800 just for a first class British Airway return ticket per person.
At the official rate of N315 to a dollar, the airfare of each governor amounts to N3 million. For the 12 visitors, the airfare therefore adds up to N37 million.
Meanwhile, The Guardian has learnt that most Nigerian politicians, who visit metropolitan London, lodge at Hilton Hotel on Parklane. And the Abuja House, the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom where President Buhari is being accommodated since May, is 17 minutes’ drive to the Hilton hotel on Parklane.
The least room rate at Hilton is 332 pounds per night. But Hilton Cosmopolitan Suite is considered the preference of most Nigerian VIPs. Currently, the rate is 2000 pounds per night. At N411 to a pound, each governor would be spending over N800, 000 per night.
For the 12 visitors, the total rent is almost N10 million. By the time the feeding expenses are added, the governors’ visit to London would cost Nigerians about N50 million.
Other public officials who have recently visited Buhari in London were the acting President Yemi Osinbajo and the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Early in the year, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, had said it was needless for state governors to abandon their responsibilities and travel to London to visit the ailing president. Yari has gone back on his words. He led his fellow governors to Abuja House in London yesterday.
List of governors and other party leaders who have visited President Buhari in London are:
Rochas Okorocha (Imo)
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa)
Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna)
Yahaya Bello (Kogi)
Aviation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi
Party Chairman, John Oyegun
Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom),
Dave Umahi (Ebonyi),
Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and
Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).
Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun)
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
