President Bola Tinubu’s sudden departure to Paris, France, in a surprising turn of event on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 is raising eyebrows and triggering speculation about the nature of his “private visit,” as described by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Chief Ajuri Ngelale. This departure is coming amidst growing concerns that President Tinubu’s private visits have become a recurring cover for what some suspect to be disguised medical leaves.
The President’s sudden decision to embark on yet another private visit has fuelled rumours and whispers about his current state of health. Nigerian observers worry that this pattern has occurred one too many times in the recent past. The speculations have intensified because of the lack of transparency surrounding the purpose of these trips.
In President Tinubu’s media adviser’s less than three lines statement in which he announced the sudden private visit, he stated that his principal is expected to be back in Nigeria in the first week of February 2024. This leaves some mystery around the duration and nature of his visit to Paris.
Nigerians suffered a similar fate in the hands of President Tinubu’s immediate predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, who in one of such instances, stayed outside the country for about 200 days.
As citizens eagerly seek more information on the so-called private visits, the undisclosed reasons behind them will continue to raise questions about the need for openness and accountability about the health of the Nigerian president.
