President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Nigeria Sunday after 34 days in France and Saudi Arabia for Umrah. His wife Remi and son Seyi met him at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 4:30 p.m.
The President-elect went straight to his Asokoro apartment to recuperate, eat Amala, and sleep, ignoring his fans who had surrounded the presidential campaign headquarters and Defence House to greet him and hear him speak.
Tinubu stated his readiness in a statement from the Office of the President-elect.
I’m back. I’m rested and ready to work. Ignore the rumours. “I’m really strong,” he remarked.
He claimed he had been consulting and planned to build a solid team so he could start administering the country on May 29.
Curiously, 100 official and rented vehicles with hundreds of supporters from Abuja lingered for hours at the airport to meet him.
Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger), former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Enekwu, and National Woman Leader Bett Bett were among those who received him at the airport.
Senators Barau Jibril, Adeola Olamilekan, Opeyemi Bamidele, Dayo Adeyeye, Sabi Abdullahi, Adelere Oriolowo, James Faleke, Babajimi Benson, and Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity for the disbanded Presidential Campaign Committee, were also there.
The president-elect left following the March 18 gubernatorial election.
According to the now-dissolved APC PCC, he left Nigeria for France on March 21 to relax and prepare for his inauguration.
The president-elect left through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The statement said he rested in Paris and London before flying to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (lesser Hajj) and Ramadan fasting.
