Concerns have arisen among Nigerian citizens following the absence of any official imagery documenting President Bola Tinubu’ s return to Nigeria after a two- week sojourn abroad. Amid the vacuum of information, an individual identified as Uche Bakaadi has come forward, alleging that a spokesperson for the Federation of All Nigerians (FAN) disclosed confidential details regarding the president’ s return.
According to Bakaadi’ s claims, President Tinubu was purportedly transported back to Nigeria on a stretcher, his visage obscured by an oxygen mask. Allegedly, upon his arrival, the president has refrained from making any public statements, purportedly due to severe jet lag. Bakaadi has seized upon this moment of uncertainty to implore his fellow Nigerians to redouble their efforts in offering prayers and support for the president’ s well- being.
Meanwhile, reactions to Bakaadi’ s claims have been mixed, with some expressing skepticism over the reliability of his sources. Others, however, have taken Bakaadi’ s assertions at face value, citing the need for greater transparency from government officials.
This development comes shortly after Daily Trust reported that the return of President Bola Tinubu to Nigeria after a two- week overseas trip has sparked speculation and concern among citizens, as the presidency chose to maintain a media blackout, refraining from releasing any visual documentation of the president’ s return.
For the past year, Tinubu’ s arrivals and departures have been meticulously documented, with photos and videos capturing the elaborate welcomes by top government officials at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. However, this time, the presidency remained conspicuously silent, opting not to share any multimedia content to confirm Tinubu’ s return.
Since assuming office, Tinubu’ s movements have been closely monitored, with his aides and presidential officials consistently sharing images of his arrivals and departures. These occasions have often been marked by the presence of key government figures bidding farewell or welcoming the president back home.
Yet, on this particular occasion, the only announcement came via a brief statement from the government- owned media outlet, NTA, without any accompanying visual evidence. Even the accounts of presidential aides and supporters remained silent, adding to the mystery surrounding Tinubu’ s return.
Although the APC UK did share a video purporting to welcome Tinubu back, investigative efforts revealed it to be old footage from a previous return trip in February. This lack of visual confirmation prompted a flurry of reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing skepticism and demanding proof of the president’ s return.
Commentators on various platforms questioned the authenticity of the news, calling for videos or photos as evidence. Speculation grew, with some suggesting that Tinubu’ s return might signify more than just a routine trip, given the absence of customary media coverage.
Adding to the intrigue, details of Tinubu’ s itinerary after his official visits to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia remained undisclosed. Reports suggested that he may have traveled to France for medical reasons, although this was neither confirmed nor denied by official sources.
Sources close to the presidency revealed that Tinubu had proceeded to London from Saudi Arabia, with his exact whereabouts in Europe remaining unclear. Despite efforts to seek clarification from presidential spokespersons, including Bayo Onanuga, questions surrounding Tinubu’ s return persisted.
