TINUBU EXTENDS VACATION IN EUROPE, SETS WEEKEND RETURN TO NIGERIA

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency announced on Monday.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the vacation before travelling to Paris, France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

In a statement on Monday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had remained in touch with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of the country while away.

According to the statement, the President also ordered an independent panel to investigate the death of 37 illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days,” the statement said.

While Tinubu has been away, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at several official functions.

Shettima, however, left Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, whose general debate begins on Tuesday, September 22.

The Presidency said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also been representing the President at official events, would continue to do so.

It added that Shettima would represent Tinubu at the UN General Assembly and deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

On the political front, Onanuga said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.

The Presidency also described as “irresponsible” for what it called the “baseless insinuation” by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by an ex-convict over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.

Tinubu’s meetings in Paris included discussions with Macron and Bolloré, whose business interests include media and entertainment companies.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend following the extension of his working vacation.