Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-elect, returns after 32-day rest in Europe
By OUR REPORTER
Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to the country after over 32 days of resting in Europe.
The aircraft that conveyed the former Lagos State governor touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 04:30pm on Monday.
Tinubu, who contested as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 election, was officially out of Nigeria since Thursday March 22 on a day Muslims started Ramadan fasting for the year and returned 32 days after on Monday April 24 that is 35 days before his inauguration to come on May 29, 2023.
He returned with his wife, Senator Oluremi; and they were received by the Vice-President-Elect, Kashim Shettima; Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; amongst many other high-ranking members of the party.
The President-Elect was received by a cheery crowd of supporters decked up in party paraphernalia. Tinubu headed to his vehicle after a brief stop to address the cheers of his supporters.
Tinubu scored the highest votes in the February 25 poll and was declared the President-Elect by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), though his victory is currently being vigorously challenged at the tribunal by two top contestants — Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On March 22, after controversy surrounded his whereabouts, Tinubu’s spokesman, Tunde Rahman said his principal travelled to Paris in France to rest and observe the lesser hajj but no photo of the President-Elect was made public while he was away.
Tinubu’s health has been a subject of controversy in the last two years. In 2021, Tinubu was away in the United Kingdom for over three months where he underwent surgery and therapy for a knee injury. He subsequently travelled to the UK and Paris a few times in 2022.
