By Aliyu Oyewole Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Paris, France, for Nigeria after spending about four weeks in Europe on what the Presidency described as a working vacation.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin his annual leave before proceeding to Paris, where he held a number of official and investment-related engagements.
The President’s return date was initially set for September 21, but the Presidency later announced an extension of his stay abroad by a few days. His return was subsequently shifted again, with September 29 announced as the revised date.
During his stay in France, Tinubu met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
He also attended a private dinner hosted by Macron at the Élysée Palace, while businessman Femi Otedola separately disclosed that he met Tinubu at a private dinner in Paris on Monday.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented the President at some official engagements during his absence.
Tinubu’s prolonged stay in Europe had generated political controversy, with opposition figures questioning his absence from Nigeria and his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The African Action Congress has also filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging aspects of the President’s extended absence and alleging non-compliance with constitutional requirements concerning presidential absence. The claims are before the court and have not been judicially determined.
On his return, Tinubu is expected to arrive in Lagos and remain there through Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
The President is expected to deliver his Independence Day broadcast and attend other official engagements in Lagos before returning to Abuja next weekend, according to reports on his revised itinerary.
The return brings to an end Tinubu’s extended European working vacation, which began with his departure for London on August 30.
