President-elect Bola Tinubu waves supporters on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja after a one-month break abroad
Ahead of the May 29, 2023 handover, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Monday to a rapturous reception by hundreds of his supporters and well-wishers across the country.
According to The Guardian, the president-elect whose private jet touched ground at exactly 4:30 pm arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).
Tinubu who had been away for over a month was received by top party officials including a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu.
Amidst cheers from the party faithful, Tinubu headed straight to his vehicle believed to be heading to the Defence House, the official residence reserved for President Elects since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Tinubu’s return put dead to speculation by a section of members of the opposition political parties and his adversaries that he may not be on hand to take over power after the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure on May 29, due to ill- health.
The president-elect had jetted out of Nigeria to France on March 21, a trip his campaign council said was meant for him to take a rest and plan ahead of his inauguration on May 29.
A statement by the APC presidential campaign council in March noted that Tinubu traveled to France to rest and plan his transition programme after a very exhaustive campaign and election season.
“The president-elect had left the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
According to the statement, 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 statement noted.
