President Muhammadu Buhari has met separately behind closed doors with Governor Babagana Zulum and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, at his official residence, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Photography, Sunday Aghaeze, confirmed the two meetings in pictorial reports on Tuesday.

It was gathered that Mr Zulum used the opportunity of the meeting to update Mr Buhari on security developments in Borno while Tinubu thanked the president for his support during the 12th Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Kano in March.

Mr Buhari, who participated virtually in the event to mark the 69th birthday of the former two-term governor of Lagos, commended the celebrant for always being an advocate of unity and national cohesion.

Tinubu had accused killer herdsmen and Boko Haram of plotting to destroy Nigeria by attacking farmers.

“Terrible people and strong forces want to break Nigeria’s appointment with its greater destiny. These people have unleashed terror and violent criminality against us,” Mr Tinubu claimed in a veiled reference to killer herders during the 23rd-25th convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. 

Mr Tinubu, an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, had added, “We approach a defining moment as a nation.

“A reckoning of special importance beckons. We must decide whether to give the truest meaning to our national motto, ‘peace and unity,’ or we allow the agents of destruction and merchants of violence to have their way with us.”

He further warned that the attacks on farmers across the country would cause a hike in food prices, adding that the country must launch programmes to expand food production.

Mr Tinubu also asked the government at both federal and state-level to consider subsidising the restart of agricultural activity interrupted by terror and criminality.

The politician’s concern contrasted that of Mr Buhari, who, according to Femi Adesina, the president’s media aide, ignore Nigerians’ public outcry as “kick like a dying horse” and “murmur like a ghost.”

No official statement on the outcome of the two meetings held on Monday night when this report was filed.