‘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.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima had represented the president at some official functions during his absence.

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.