President-elect Bola Tinubu on Monday returned to Nigeria after a vacation which lasted over a month in France.
Tinubu left the country on March 21 in what his campaign council said was meant for him to rest and plan ahead of his inauguration on May 29.
A statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council in March said, “The president-elect had left the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
“The president-elect decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) and the Ramadan Fasting.”
The planned arrival of the former Lagos State governor was confirmed on Monday morning by his director of media and publicity, Bayo Onanuga.
“Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu returns to Abuja today after weeks of a well-deserved vacation in France. E kaabo! Se dada le de!” Onanuga tweeted.
Tinubu’s plane landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Tinubu was accompanied by his wife Remi and son Seyi.
They were received by Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima and some governors.
Others present were James Faleke, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Jibrin Barau, and Senator Dayo Adeyeye. He was also received by a crowd of jubilant supporters.
In a statement on Sunday, April 23, Faleke invited supporters of the president-elect to welcome him in Abuja.
“My dear brothers and sisters of this unique family. I wish to inform and request of us all that anyone in Abuja and Nasarawa is invited to join in receiving our Peoples President and First Lady Elect tomorrow by 2pm at the Presidential wing of the International Airport,” he wrote.
Flanked by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu waved excitedly at the crowd and blew them kisses.
Addressing the mammoth crowd which thronged his Asokoro home, the president-elect debunked the rumour that he was rushed abroad for treatment, saying he was strong after his vacation.
He said, “I am happy to be back. I have rested, I’m refreshed and I’m ready for the task ahead. Forget about what the rumour mill may have told you. I’m strong, very strong.”
