Former President Muhammadu Buhari has attributed his absence from the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), held in Lagos on Wednesday, to a medical check-up in the UK.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Buhari congratulated the regional bloc on its golden jubilee, expressing regret for his inability to attend the historic celebration.
“Regrettably, as Your Excellency is aware, I am currently in the United Kingdom undergoing routine medical check-ups and therefore, unable to attend this historic event,” Buhari wrote.
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He lauded ECOWAS’s achievements over the past five decades, acknowledging the regional body’s resilience despite numerous challenges “I congratulate Your Excellency and other Heads of State and Government on the attainment of this Golden Jubilee by ECOWAS,” he stated.
Buhari also paid tribute to retired Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State and the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS, commending his pivotal role in the bloc’s creation in 1975.
The anniversary celebration marked a significant milestone for ECOWAS, which was formally inaugurated in Lagos in 1975, with a symbolic reenactment of the original declaration held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
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