The First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, will tomorrow host presidential aspirants across political parties to an Iftar at the Presidential Villa.
This was learnt from an invitation letter to the aspirants, a copy of which was sighted in Abuja.
The invited guests are instructed not to come with their mobile devices, except their invitation cards, which will serve as their entry pass.
It was, however, clarified that the ‘drop phone’ instruction will not apply to some of the attendees, including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and ministers that will attend the Iftar.
In a phone chat, the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the First Lady, Aliyu Abdullah, said it was the standard protocol for guests at events in the Villa, which would be attended by either the President, Vice-President or the First Lady, to be asked not to go in with phones.
Abdullahi, who confirmed the meeting, said: “There is nothing here. This is a standard operational protocol in the Villa when you are having either of the three occupants of the Presidency. If they are coming for an event, this is supposed to be DSS-enforced.
“Whether the President is having an event or the Vice-President is having an event or the First Lady is having an event, because outsiders will come. That’s the security and standard protocol.”
