President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has travelled abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29, 2023 inauguration.

His spokesman, Tunde Rahman, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He also urged the media to stop publishing unsubstantiated claims about Tinubu.

There were reports that Tinubu travelled abroad for a medical check-up.

But Rahman in a statement said Tinubu decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and the election to rest.

The statement read in part, “After a very exhaustive campaign and election season, President-elect, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has travelled abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29, 2023 inauguration.

“The President-elect left the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja for Europe on Tuesday night.

“The President-elect decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) and the Ramadan Fasting that begins Thursday,” he said.

He noted that while away, Tinubu will use the opportunity to plan his transition programme.

President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced the sighting of the new moon signifying the start of the Ramadan fasting.

In a broadcast on Wednesday night, Abubakar who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, said Muslims in Nigeria should commence fasting on Thursday, March 23.

Ramadan is the period when Muslims observe fasting and prayers.

He said the announcement followed reports of the moonsighting received from Islamic scholars and organisations across the country.

He said the reports were duly “authenticated and verified” by the states and national moonsighting committees.

The Sultan said, “Consequently, tomorrow Thursday the 23rd day of March 2023 becomes the first day of Ramadan 1444 after Hijra.

“We, therefore, call on all Muslims to commence fasting accordingly. As we just concluded the 2023 general elections and leaders emerge at the national and state levels by Allah’s will, we, therefore, call on all Muslims to use this holy month to pray in guiding the affairs of our great country.

“We appeal to the well-meaning individuals amongst us to assist the vulnerable and the poor people with food during this holy month of Ramadan to ease the hardship people are going through.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness that some candidates lost in the just concluded general elections in Nigeria.

He also hailed the conduct of the elections, describing it as credible.

He spoke at a farewell meeting with the outgoing United States Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard, at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.

Presidential aide Garba Shehu said in a statement, “President Muhammadu Buhari says, given the chance of a free and fair election as well as non-interference as was witnessed on February 25th and March 18th elections, Nigerians have proved to be capable of deciding who leads them without anyone telling them what to do.

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“President Buhari who expressed satisfaction with remarkable passion towards democracy exhibited by Nigerians through the choices they made in the Presidential, National Assembly and the subsequent Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, said Nigeria’s democracy has truly matured.