- As Opposition Blames Frequent Trips On His Failing Health
By Charles Adingupu
Barely two weeks after he returned to Nigeria from a three-country trip that saw him visiting London, Saudi Arabia and Paris, President-elect, Bola Tinubu on Wednesday afternoon, 10th May, 2023, departed Nigeria to Europe again.
This trip by the President-elect has generated fresh concerns among party members as a handful Nigerians are heaping the blame of Tinubu’s frequent travels overseas to his failing health.
A member of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who proffered anonymity queries what would be so urgent that would make the President elect to travel to Europe again less than two weeks after his last visit to the continent even when his inauguration slated for May 29 is just two weeks away.
He stated that Nigerians should be ready to nurse another sick President as they repeatedly ignored warnings against voting for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the just concluded February 25th, 2023 presidential election due mainly to his failing health.
But an authoritative source hinted that the trip was part of his efforts to fine-tune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides.
A statement from the Office of the President-elect signed by Tunde Rahman, stated that the trip became necessary to allow Tinubu carry out some tasks without unnecessary pressure and distractions.
“He will use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.
“During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations”, he stated.
The statement noted that already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.
“Asíwájú Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.
“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.
“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.
“Before he left the country, Asíwájú Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by Joint Task Team of the House.
“He is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing in as the 16th President of the country on May 29, 2023”, Rahman added.
