By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said that his absence at the launch of the book written in honour of President Mohamamdu Buhari was informed by late arrival of his formal invitation.

The launch of the book titled: Mohammadu Buhari: The challenges of leadership on Nigeria attracted the presence of many former head of states and presidents including his former boss, President Olusegun Obsanjo.

Former Vice President  Atiku Abubakar

Presidents of Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger republics also attended the occasion which made it a gathering of who-is-who.

But when contacted, the Media Adviser to Atiku, Mazi Paul Ibe said that for “inexplicable reason the former Vice President only received his invitation today (Monday) after the event had started.”

He added “It is on record that the invitation for the Turakin Adamawa was delivered to the Atiku Centre on October 1, forty hours before the event of today, and only after the former Vice President had travelled to Gombe to honour the invitation for the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the creation of creation of Gombe State.

“The former Vice President returned to Abuja on Sunday night, 2nd October. The invitation letter signed 30th September, 2016, the last working day of the week was handed over to Atiku Abubakar today (Monday), after the programme had commenced.

“As a former Vice President well-schooled in the demands of protocol, it would have been inappropriate of the Turakin Adamawa to storm into the event while Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-chief was already seated with other dignitaries including visiting Heads of Government to the occasion.”