President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today (Wednesday) for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation, part of his yearly leave.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy in a statement on Wednesday, the President will “use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms”.
He will return to the country after the leave expires, Onanuga added.
Following his recent official visit to China and a short stay in the United Kingdom, President Tinubu returned to Abuja on Sunday, September 15.
President Tinubu had departed Abuja for Beijing, China, on August 29, making a stop in Dubai, UAE, before arriving in Beijing on Sunday, September 1, for his official visit.
From China, the President went to the UK for a short stay.
However, while he was in the UK, a video surfaced online showing Tinubu leaving St Mary’s Hospital in London, sparking speculations that he was there for an emergency medical treatment.
The video showed Tinubu coming out of the hospital with some of his aides and medical personnel accompanying him till he entered his car.
Several netizens regarded Tinubu’s action as deceptive, accusing him of hiding his visit to the UK hospital from the Nigerian public.
One of the President’s renowned critics and activist, Mahdi Shehu said, “TINUBU LIED: His picture with King Charles was shared to deceive people. He was at St Mary emergency treatment center in London for emergency medical care. No matter the hide and seek, what is destined will happen willy- nilly.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu was earlier reported to have visited King Charles.
This was announced by the Royal family in a post shared on X.
“Yesterday, The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria visited His Majesty at Buckingham Palace,” the Royal Family posted on its official X account along with a picture of the two leaders shaking hands.
The development about the visit to St Mary’s came amid rising concerns at the home front on the policies of the President, which have been described as repressive and anti-people.
There have also been concerns that the Tinubu’s presidency is detached from the realities of the masses.
Many commentators have also expressed worry about the travels embarked on by the President which cost the country a fortune.