Bayo Onanuga says President Bola Tinubu is hale and hearty, working abroad and returning this week for Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary.
The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu is “hale and hearty” and currently on a working vacation, dismissing concerns over his absence from Nigeria.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a post on X on Sunday.
Onanuga said Tinubu was entitled to his annual vacation and could continue carrying out his presidential duties while outside Abuja.
“Nigeria’s President is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to. In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023,” he said.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu has continued to work while abroad, including meetings with investors in France.
He cited the recent development of a proposed $7 billion deep-sea port in Ogun Waterside as one of the projects the President had helped facilitate.
The Ogun State Government and global ports operator DP World recently signed agreements in Paris for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone. The projects are expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment.
Onanuga also defended Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, noting that other African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, were also absent.
“Two other important African leaders were not in New York for the UNGA: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi,” he said.
He added that Tinubu had announced his annual vacation and delegated Nigeria’s representation at the UNGA to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Onanuga also criticised former Anambra State governor Peter Obi for questioning Tinubu’s whereabouts.
“Yet Peter Obi pretends to be unaware of President Tinubu’s whereabouts and asks the puerile question his followers are asking on X,” he said.
The presidential aide said Tinubu would return to Nigeria this week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He added that the President would also attend the Lagos premiere of a film about the late businessman and democracy campaigner, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
“President Tinubu will return home this week to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and honour MKO Abiola, the martyr of the democracy we enjoy today, by attending the premiere of a movie in MKO’s memory in Lagos,” Onanuga said.