‘I’m healthy and ready to go’ — Tinubu speaks after returning from extended vacation abroad

President Bola Tinubu says he is healthy and ready to work,
dismissing insinuations of a health challenge following his extended working
vacation in Europe.

 

The president spoke shortly after arriving in Lagos on
Tuesday from Paris, France, after spending four weeks on a working vacation.

He was welcomed at the presidential wing of the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, by top government officials, including
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos; Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the
president; Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House of Representatives; AbdulRahman
AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara; and security chiefs, among others.

Addressing State House correspondents alongside the
government officials, Tinubu said he is healthy and ready to get back to work.

“I enjoyed myself,” he said.

“Ready to kick, ready to work, there is nothing wrong.
Rumours will always emanate from politics. But the fact is I’m here, healthy,
sound and ready to go.”

BACK STORY

The presidency had earlier said Tinubu would depart France
on Tuesday for Lagos to honour the memory of the late MKO Abiola, whom it
described as a martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tinubu on information and
strategy, said the president would attend the premiere of a movie honouring
Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, at the Wole
Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on Independence Day.

Onanuga said Tinubu would also hold strategic meetings with
political leaders and associates over several days in Lagos before returning to
Abuja.

Tinubu was initially expected to return to Nigeria on
September 20 after the presidency announced on August 30 that he would spend
three weeks on a working vacation.

However, on September 21, the presidency said the president
had extended his stay abroad by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the
weekend.

Onanuga, in a statement, said Tinubu had remained in touch
with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs while away.

Shettima also travelled to New York on September 20 to
represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Tinubu’s absence triggered a constitutional debate, with
some opposition figures questioning whether presidential powers should have
been formally transferred to Shettima after 21 days.

Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides that the
president is proceeding on vacation, he shall transmit a written declaration to
the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives,
after which the vice-president performs the functions of the president in an
acting capacity.

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