President Bola Tinubu has finally returned to Nigeria, putting an end to days of speculation and concern over his whereabouts.
According to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the President arrived in Abuja on Wednesday morning, following his trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
News About Nigeria reports that the president’s location has been shrouded in secrecy since his trip to Saudi Arabia on April 29, sparking concerns about his health.
His media handlers’ initial silence only added to the speculation, with some wondering if he had travelled to Paris, France, for medical treatment, as he had done in the past.
However, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, put the rumours to rest on Tuesday, announcing on his X handle that the President would return to Nigeria on Wednesday.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” he wrote.
This development comes after the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, assured Nigerians that the President’s absence was not related to his health.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa stated, “We have a president who is well, who is healthy, and who is leading the country in the right direction. The President is getting some of his care in Nigeria.”
Alausa said the government’s focus is on developing a healthcare system for all Nigerians, not just the President.
In reaction to the absence of the president, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the situation as “unusual” and “worrisome” given the nation’s current challenges.
He took to social media to express his concerns.
He said, “I have been inundated by reports of the absence of the President and Vice President from the country. It is unprecedented that the two leaders will be absent from the country at the same time, especially now that the nation is faced with daunting challenges. The question that readily comes to mind is who is in charge of government at this point, or is it right to assume that we are on autopilot?”
