In an unusual turn of events, the presidency did not release any pictures or videos of President Bola Tinubu’s return to Nigeria on Wednesday after a two-week trip abroad. This departure from the norm has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation among Nigerians.
Since assuming office a year ago, President Tinubu’s aides and officials from the presidency have consistently shared multimedia content capturing his arrivals and departures from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. However, his return on Wednesday was announced only through a news flash by the government-owned NTA, without any accompanying visuals.
Typically, top government officials such as the Chief of Staff to the President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, and Governors have been present to bid farewell and welcome the President during such occasions. However, this time, none of the accounts of the presidential aides or supporters posted any pictures or videos of Tinubu’s return trip.
While the APC UK posted a video on its X handle welcoming Tinubu back, it was quickly discovered to be an old video from February 6, 2024, when the President returned from a private visit to France.
The lack of visual documentation of Tinubu’s return has set tongues wagging among Nigerians on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Users have expressed skepticism and demanded videos or pictures to confirm the President’s arrival, with some questioning the authenticity of the news.
President Tinubu had initially left Abuja on April 23 for an official visit to the Netherlands, followed by a trip to Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum’s Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development. However, his next destination after the event in Saudi Arabia remained shrouded in secrecy, fueling speculation about a potential medical trip to France.
Two credible sources from the presidency independently informed Daily Trust that the President had proceeded to London from Riyadh for a private visit, although the exact reason was not disclosed. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, later confirmed that Tinubu had headed for Europe from Saudi Arabia but did not specify the European country.
The lack of transparency surrounding the President’s travels and his return without the usual fanfare has raised concerns among Nigerians, who are demanding clarity and accountability from their leaders. As the nation grapples with pressing issues like nationwide fuel scarcity, the absence of visual documentation of the President’s return has only added to the growing unease.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer