The Presidency today said it did not record Monday’s reported telephone conversation between President Muhammadu Buhari and his United States counterpart Donald Trump, because doing so would be “undiplomatic”.

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant, Media to the President, said this today on a live TV programme while responding to the request being made in some quarters for the release of the audio containing the conversation.

According to him, releasing an audio containing telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern day civilisation.

“No, I don’t think so; I don’t think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.

“I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president,” he said.

Buhari had on Monday in London reportedly spoken with Trump by telephone at the request of the American President. According to the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the conversation was cordial and Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States and on his cabinet.

Adesina said the two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.

According to him, Trump encouraged Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commended him for the efforts he has made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.

“Trump assured the Nigerian president of the U.S readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.

“Trump also invited Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date,’’ the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, Shehu said today on the live TV programme that Buhari is homesick and will be on his way to Nigeria any time soon.

Although Shehu did not indicate when exactly the president will return, he said the president is no longer “enjoying his stay” outside the country.

Buhari went on vacation to UK on Jan. 19, during which he said he would go for a routine medical check. In a letter to the Senate, he said he would return to work on February 6.

But he transmitted another letter to the Senate, on February 5, requesting extension of time to complete the medical check-up.

However, the presidential aide revealed that the president would be returning to Nigeria soonest as he was no longer ‘comfortable’ with the extended vacation in London.

“As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the president in fresh and that will be soon as possible.

“The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people.

“I don’t think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country.”

On the president’s test results being expected from his doctors, the presidential aide said he had no information on whether the president had collected the results or not.

He said: “No, we have no information on that (test results). If he had received them, he would have been on the plane back home.”

•Adapted from a NAN report.

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