Where Is Tinubu? – Serious Tension Looms
Ibom Focus asks you, Where Is Tinubu?
The silence of Nigeria’s presidency about President Bola Tinubu’s unofficial trip to France has revived raging debates over concerns and secrecy of the president’s state of health.
It was on Thursday reported Tinubu’s unannounced trip to Paris, France in what multiple sources confirmed was for medical reasons.
“The President is in France to see his doctors,” a source had said.
An investigation had revealed that a Nigerian presidential aircraft, a Gulfstream Aerospace GV-SP (G550) with registration number 5N-FGW and serial number 5310 (Mode-S 0640F2) with Tinubu onboard arrived at Paris Airport-Le Bourget, France around 04:00pm on Thursday from an airport in London.
The President on Tuesday morning left Saudi Arabia – where he attended the World Economic Forum – for London.
A statement issued last week by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale said the special WEF meeting in Riyadh would end on Monday, April 29.
“After his engagements in the Netherlands, President Tinubu will proceed to attend a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting scheduled for April 28-29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” the statement had read.
Meanwhile, in the statement, the Presidency carefully left out information about when Tinubu was expected back in Nigeria after the international forum or that he would visit the UK and France after leaving Saudi Arabia.
Also, the Presidency has been silent on President Tinubu’s whereabouts since the international summit ended on Monday, April 29.
Efforts to reach Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, for comments and clarification failed as he did not answer calls from SaharaReporters. He also did not reply to messages sent to his mobile phone.
However, it was learnt that the 5N-FGW (Gulfstream Aerospace) which was operated as Nigerian Air Force 1 – meaning the President was on board – left Riyadh International Airport on Tuesday, April 30 at 12:05 am (02:05 am Saudi Arabian time) and arrived at Stansted Airport, London at 06:35 am, UK time.
The jet was used to replace the Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-700) 5N-FGT that is still in Germany for repairs.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have taken over the social media to demand the whereabouts of Tinubu who has not been seen in public since he met with Microsoft Founder and Philanthropist, Bill Gates at the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last Sunday, April 28.
The president who was supposed to make a public address to Nigerian civil servants on May 1 workers’ day was nowhere in sight.
Also, the President didn’t attend the last Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting.
Recently, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima has been attending and taking charge in so many occasions where Tinubu himself should have shown up.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have declared the President Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL).
They wondered why Tinubu has refused to return to Nigeria after the WEF meeting ended in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Some of them who took to the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter) said:
Paul Ibe, @OfficialPaulIbe said, “The whereabouts of Nigerian president must never be a subject of speculation. If Tinubu is in France for medicals, as reported by @SaharaReporters, or elsewhere, Nigerians deserve to know. After all, he is our property and is spending state resources.”
DauDuSheshi, @MrGEO01 wrote, “The citizens must be allowed to know the status of their President and his medical conditions.
Every citizen is entitled to lead the Nation but it will be wrong for the President to be under serious medical need and keep that hidden from the citizens. We cant keep staying in dark.”
Abayomi, @thebearsze said, “The president has been AWOL for a week. LMAO. This is what you people fought for? What you destroyed friendships and community for?The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
CHIDYE, @gentlechidye wrote, “This is why there was no address on Workers Day!”
Rhatti Bwoy, @donballen wrote, “Who knew our president has been awol for a week lol.”
Eighth wonders of the world, @gabrielonyebu10 wrote, “”I built Lagos” don run go hide for France for medical reason. Them no dey build hospital for Lagos? Ndi mgbu”
Thomas NOT Sankara, @Isidore0001 said, “We knew he is awol for medical check up. This is no news, rather a pattern.”
@ajaGunSEgun_ wrote, “For whatever reason, if Nigerians continue to allow political office holders to travel abroad for medical treatment or send their children to foreign universities, etc., meaningful development in both sectors will be impossible.”
john_though, @hey_watever wrote, “Tinubu’s first year: The dollar soars, petrol prices skyrocket, and the cost of living is unbearable. The minimum wage barely covers a bag of rice.
What progress has been made? Where is the ‘work’ we were promised?”
Before the 2023 general elections, Tinubu’s health was a source of concern for many Nigerians.
