Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has dismissed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s whereabouts, saying the President is ‘hale and hearty’ and currently on a working vacation.
Onanuga, in a post on social media, said Tinubu was entitled to take his annual holiday and could continue carrying out official duties despite being away from Abuja.
‘President Tinubu is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to,’ Onanuga wrote.
He said the President had remained engaged in official activities while abroad, including meetings with investors in France.
According to him, Tinubu had most recently facilitated a $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.
Onanuga also pointed to the absence of some other African leaders from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.
‘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 and Labour Party presidential candidate, 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 wrote.
The presidential aide said Tinubu was expected to return to Nigeria during the week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He said the President would also honour the late businessman and democracy campaigner, MKO Abiola, by attending the premiere of a film about him in Lagos.