The Presidency has said that President Bola Tinubu is hale and hearty and will be returning to Nigeria this week after his working vacation.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday. That Tinubu would return to Lagos to participate in the activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He explained that President Tinubu undertook official engagements during his vacation, including meetings with investors in France.
According to him, the signing of agreements for a proposed $7 billion deep-sea port in Ogun Waterside was among the activities.
“Nigeria’s President is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to.
“In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023,” Onanuga said.
He said that Tinubu had delegated Nigeria’s representation at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
He also cited the absence of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi from the UNGA.
Onanuga said that the absence of the two leaders had not generated similar public debate.
He criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for questioning Tinubu’s whereabouts.
He argued that the President’s vacation and official engagements had been publicly communicated by the Presidency.
Onanuga reiterated that Tinubu was expected to return this week and participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He added that President Tinubu is also expected to attend the Lagos premiere of a film commemorating late democracy activist, Chief MKO Abiola.
It will be recalled that President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where the Presidency said he began a three-week working vacation.
After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, he travelled to Paris for official engagements.
On September 21, the Presidency announced that Tinubu had extended his stay abroad by a few days.
GIK/APA