President
Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday evening met behind closed doors with former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
The
meeting, held inside the official residence of the President at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, came barely 24 hours after Jonathan returned to the
country.
A
Presidency source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said
on Friday that the “private” meeting was held at about 9pm.
The
meeting is believed to have centred on the renewed violence in the Niger Delta
being perpetrated by a group called the Niger Delta Avengers.
The
source said, “Indeed, the two leaders met. The meeting was a private one. I
believe it has to do with the militants’ attacks in the Niger Delta.
“The
former President must have offered useful suggestions and assistance on the way
out.”
Presidential
spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, could not be reached on the telephone
for comments as of the time of filing this report.
Jonathan
had, on Wednesday returned to Nigeria, after a month’s trip to the United
Kingdom and Côte d’Ivoire.
He
arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport before heading for his
country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
He
left Otuoke for Abuja on Thursday to keep the appointment with the President.
Jonathan
had on May 23 dismissed a report that he was on exile in Cote d’Ivoire.
The
report by a national newspaper had indicated that Jonathan had been given
asylum in that Francophone country for fear of being arrested by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission.
But
on May 23, Jonathan denied the report saying, “I’m not on exile. I have no cause
to go on exile. It is a wicked and malicious report.”
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