First Lady, Aisha Buhari, will host presidential aspirants across political parties to an Iftar dinner at the Presidential Villa on Saturday.
According to the invitation letter sent to the guests, invitees to the dinner are instructed not to come along with their mobile devices, except their invitation cards which would serve as their entry pass.
Daily Trust, however, reported that the ‘drop phone’ instruction on the invitation will naturally not apply to some of the attendees, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and ministers that will be attending.
The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the First Lady, Aliyu Abdullah, who confirmed the meeting in a phone interview on Thursday, said it is standard protocol for guests at events in the Villa.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Abdullahi 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.
“That does not apply to the Vice President. How can you expect that to apply to the Vice President or even to ministers.”