The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu has said the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar is back at his London home.
In a post on his Facebook page, Mallam Shehu said: “Alhamdu Lillahi for Allah’s mercy.
I just ended a visit to His Excellency Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Head of State. He is out of the hospital in a London apartment and apparently in no serious condition. He was his jovial self, maintaining a keen interest in developments back at home in Nigeria. Please, no cause for alarm.
General Abubakar was reportedly rushed out of the country about three weeks ago to receive medical treatment.
Family sources said he was first flown to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for medical attention but could now have been admitted to a specialist hospital in the United Kingdom.
A source said the former Head of State was accompanied on the trip abroad by his wife and former First Lady Justice Fati Lami Abubakar.
Sources in the UK said his in-law and governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello immediately after the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries travelled to Dubai to show solidarity with the former Nigerian leader and was expected to be at his hospital bed in the UK for the same motive.
It was gathered that the former military ruler was flown to London last week for urgent medical care, with the source adding that the Chairman of the National Peace Committee had been sick for some time before the family decided to seek medical care for him outside Nigeria.
Abubakar, as a result of his sickness, could not be in Ado Ekiti earlier in the past week for the Gubernatorial Peace Pact signed by all the 11 political parties and their candidates on 15th June 2022. He was represented by Bishop Mathew Kukah and other members of the National Peace Committee.
It was also learnt that Abubakar could not celebrate his 80th birthday on 13th June 2022, as earlier planned because of the sickness that has confined him to a hospital bed in London.
President Muhammadu Buhari, governors and other leaders through press releases and statements celebrated the elder statesman for his accomplishments, patriotism and ushering in democratic governance in Nigeria on 29th May 1999 after about two decades of military dictatorship.
Sources had said the health condition of Abdulsalami calls for worry but his doctors were said to have stabilised him and returned him to good health.
“He was 80 years old last week and all plans to celebrate him in a big way by family, friends and associates could not materialise because he had to be brought to London for medical care.
“His condition is not deteriorating but calls for worry. He is not a young man at 80 but we are praying for good health for him.
“We don’t know how long he will stay here. We hope he will return to Nigeria as soon as his health is better and allowed to go by his doctors. General Abubakar is a stabilising figure in Nigeria. He is well respected across board and we pray God to grant him more years,” said a source who saw him in the last 48 hours,” the source added.