President Bola Tinubu says he had a good four-week vacation in Europe and is back in Nigeria “healthy, sound and ready to go”. Politics
“Tinubu spoke yesterday on his return to Lagos from Paris, France where he had spent the final part of his extended European vacation, according to Channels TV.
Asked how the trip was, the president answered, “I had a good time. Sweet.”
Tinubu was also asked to comment on concerns voiced by several Nigerians including some of his well wishers regarding his health toward the end of his time in Europe.
“Ready to kick, ready to walk. “Nothing the matter,” he said.
“Rumour will always emanate from politics, but the facts remain, I’m here,” the president concluded. Healthy, sound and ready to roll.”
Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for a three-week yearly holiday, with London as his first stop, the presidency had said. Political Science
After a week’s stay in London he went to Paris, where the holiday was crowded with a lot of official appointments.
In France, Tinubu had a special dinner with President Emmanuel Macron and met with business executives including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group. He also met with Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola.
The president also observed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State government and DP World for the establishment of a Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone, a project estimated to draw $7 billion in investment.
The presidency later revealed that Tinubu had prolonged his working holiday by a few days, with the president returning to Nigeria yesterday, Tuesday September 29, rather than the weekend as previously announced. Politics
His protracted trip abroad also sparked political controversy, especially after he skipped the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Tinubu was represented at the event by Vise President Kashim Shettima, who gave Nigeria’s national declaration and engaged in high-level engagements.
The Federal Government said the decision by Tinubu to send Shettima to lead the Nigerian delegation was part of his annual leave and insisted that the vice president was carrying the full mandate of the president.
The move sparked condemnation from opposition figures, however. African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar asked about the constitutional consequences of Tinubu’s extended absence, especially after the first 21 days, and asked questions concerning Section 145 of the Constitution and transfer of presidential powers. Politics
The presidency justified the absence of the president alongside his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, calling the trip as a working vacation and stating Tinubu stayed in touch with happenings at home and continued to supervise the activities of government.
Onanuga also stated the president is “hale and hearty” and suggested that Tinubu does not have to be physically present in Abuja to execute his obligations in the digital era.
Tinubu’s return to Nigeria ends his four-week vacation in Europe.
The Nigerian Air Force One landed at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos around 6.22pm. The journalists at the airport were not to be allowed to visually report his arrival.
The president is slated to attend events lined up for the celebration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, including the screening of a film in commemoration of the late MKO Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Lagos on October 1.
He is also scheduled to hold strategic discussions in Lagos before returning to Abuja.
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