President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday dismissed concerns about his health and called the rumours politically motivated. He returned to Nigeria after about a month abroad on what the Presidency called a working vacation in Europe.
He spoke to journalists shortly after arriving at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday evening. He had flown in from Paris, France, where he spent the second half of his trip.
“Rumours will always emanate from politics, but the fact remains that I am here, healthy, sound and ready to go. Ready to work, and ready to go,” Tinubu said.
Asked about the concerns raised by Nigerians and his supporters, he said there was “nothing wrong” with him. He added that he had enjoyed the break and was now back at work.
Dignitaries welcome President
Several senior officials received Tinubu at the airport. They included Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Abbas said he hoped the rest would translate into renewed energy in government.
“It is incredibly nice to have him after one month away, and we believe that the days he has spent resting will translate into more action this time around,” the Speaker said.
Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency announced as a three-week annual vacation. He spent about a week in London before moving to Paris.
Tinubu is expected to remain in Lagos for activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on Oct. 1.
The activities include his nationwide broadcast and other official engagements, including events honouring the late Chief MKO Abiola, before his return to Abuja.
On September 21, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President had extended his stay “by a few days” and would return at the weekend. According to the statement, Tinubu stayed in touch with developments at home and continued to direct government affairs.
One example it gave was his order for an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna after their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The weekend of September 26–27 passed without his return. On Sunday, Onanuga posted on X that the President was “hale and hearty” and “perfectly entitled” to a working vacation. “In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in the country to perform his duties.”
Crediblenewsng.com
