Tinubu’s Overseas Trip Stirs Many Reactions

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the acting head of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, encouraged Nigerians Wednesday to disregard rumors and accept the explanations provided by Bola Tinubu, the country's incoming president, for his travel to France.

Tinubu has once more taken a another trip to Europe, prior to his May 29 inauguration

During his journey to Europe, Tinubu was scheduled to meet with investors and important business friends, according to a statement by his adviser Tunde Rahman.

This is occurring two weeks following the incoming president's return from a trip to the UK, Saudi Arabia, and France.

Rahman, in a statement, said: “President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday afternoon, left Nigeria for Europe on a working visit. He will use the opportunity of the trip to fine-tune transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

“During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies, with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

“Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community, including manufacturing, agriculture, tech, and energy have been lined up.”

Adebanjo said, since Tinubu hasn’t informed anyone he was traveling due to health reasons, there is no reason to panic. He added: “He must have his reasons for traveling. So, there is no harm in traveling when he finds it necessary. We have to believe what he says. Don’t let us speculate about him.”

Thelma Okoh, the chief strategist at Winstarbel Communications Limited, stated that since Tinubu has not taken the oath of office, he is free to go whenever and wherever he pleases.

“He had a rigorous campaign. He has a right to his privacy, and until he is sworn in, he is not yet our president; he is still president-elect.

“Maybe, he is using this time to manage his health or he is even working on his personal businesses, to make things work out seamlessly, when he is eventually sworn in on May 29.

“Whether he has traveled for pleasure, tourism or health reasons, it shouldn’t be used against him, since he is not yet the president. He still has his time to himself. Probably, he has gone to engage Nigerians in diaspora. Even if we try to use it against him, can we leave out our people (Nigerians) who are in diaspora from his new agenda? They are also key players in the growth of the economy.”

Legal expert Wale Irokuso argued that Nigerians should not be alarmed by Tinubu's visit but rather should be worried about the policies he is implementing instead.

“The truth of the matter is, someone traveling abroad is nothing out of the ordinary. And I don’t know why anybody is making a fuss about it. There’s no serious-minded person in Nigeria, in business, that doesn’t move in and out of the country frequently.” He said

Alex Omotehinse, president of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), asserted that he did not see any distinction between Tinubu's administration and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “It is obvious that the man is not 100 percent okay, health wise. During the electioneering campaign, there were several reports that he traveled for medicals. Now, he hasn’t been sworn in, he is already traveling. In the history of this country, Buhari was outside the country for four months to treat his ailment. Is that what we are going to nurse again in the next administration?”