Tinubu to return Monday after one-month rest in France

President-elect, Bola Tinubu, will return to Nigeria on Monday after a one-month rest in France.

His return is coming 35 days to his inauguration on May 29 as Nigeria’s brand new President.

Tinubu left the country for France on Tuesday, March 21 to rest and plan the transition programme.

This was disclosed by  a loyalist of the president-elect in an enquiry by THISDAY.

The source said, “Asiwaju is coming back on Monday. He will arrive Monday evening.”

His Media Office had in a statement in March explained that he travelled to France to rest and plan his transition programme after a very exhaustive campaign and election season.

According to the statement, 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.

The statement added that while away, he would also use the opportunity to plan his transition programme.

“He has directed all the senior aides and campaign staff to also go and observe a short rest. He is expected back in the country soon. We enjoin the media to stop publishing rumours and unsubstantiated claims and to always seek clarifications from our office,” his media office reportedly said.

Tinubu last week submitted 13 names of eminent Nigerians that would make up the Presidential Inauguration Committee ahead of the May 29 inauguration.

The submission of the 13 names was in response to a letter by the Presidential Transition Committee (PTC), headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, asking for nominations into the 13 sub-committees under the Inauguration Committee of the council.

On his return to the country, the president-elect is expected to hit the ground running to address certain issues that would ensure effective take-off of his government on inauguration on May 29.

One of such issues is the zoning of National Assembly leadership which has polarised the two chambers of the parliament along regional and religious lines.While the South-west will emerge as the new kingmaker, the current kingmaker, the North-west, is seeking compensation in the new dispensation for delivering the highest votes to the president-elect.

To this end, the incoming lawmakers from the zone have eyes on the Senate President, a development, which is bringing them on a collision with their colleagues from both the South-east, who are crying due to perceived marginalisation, and the South-south that lays the golden egg.Both the South-east and South-south are laying claim to the Senate Presidency to ensure the emergence of a Christian Senate President and balance the same-faith presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president-elect is also expected to use the next 35 days to assemble a competent team that will form his cabinet to ensure smooth takeoff after his inauguration.

Another major challenge facing Tinubu on his return is how to handle the removal of petrol subsidy, which is long overdue, without hurting the organised labour.

The labour unions had given stringent conditions for the removal of subsidy.The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which came into effect in 2022, provides for the removal of subsidy but the implementation of this aspect of the legislation was suspended for 18 months, which expires in June.

Tinubu to return Monday after one-month rest in France