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Why President-elect Dumped Plan For Lesser Hajj
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Lodging in a French Health Farm
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Medical Condition Unnecessarily Exaggerated
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Expected Back in Nigeria This Week
The political circuit in Nigeria is working full time for those who want a stake in the incoming Federal Government. With just about a month to the inauguration of President-elect Bola Tinubu on May 29, high-profile job hunters with impressive CVs are seeking an audience with him, THEWILL can authoritatively disclose.
With professional lobbyists in tow, many had besieged Mecca, thinking that the President-elect will be there to perform the Lesser-Hajj.
Spokesman for the President-elect, Tunde Rahman, had said on March 22 that his principal had travelled to France and London to get a deserved rest after the grueling electioneering.
“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,” Rahman had said, adding, “While away, the President-Elect will also use the opportunity to plan his transition programme.”
Cashing in on the revelation contained in that statement, the lobbyists, who thought the solemnity of a religious event would provide a perfect cover for their game-plan, had flooded Mecca in search of Tinubu.
Primed for action, the lobbyists descended on Mecca to see the President-elect and make their case. But it all ended in an anti-climax. The President-elect was nowhere near Mecca, neither did he go for the Lesser Hajj.
He was 5.967.2 kilometres away in France. He avoided the Holy Land. Some other more pressing and demanding matters had captured the attention of the President-elect and holed him up in that seductive European country.
According to THEWILL investigation, Tinubu is in France for his medicals, clinicals as well as body and mind rejuvenation ahead of his inauguration in to office.
What his media aide had described in elegant language as “travelled abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29, 2023 inauguration,” was not out of place except that the health aspect was cryptically left out though for understandable strategic reasons.
Although the nature of the ailment could not be independently verified because of the unnecessary mystery surrounding it, THEWILL gathered that there was no cause for alarm: “The illness is unnecessarily being exaggerated,” according to a dependable source.
Right now, THEWILL can report that the president-elect is still in France and may not be able to make it to London as he’s set to jet into Nigeria to begin preparation for his inauguration by the middle of next week. THEWILL also gathered that Tinubu is fine and presently staying in a health farm in France.
However, Tinubu and his handlers have been working hard to keep prying eyes at bay and keep the public focused on the imminence of his administration.
Last Thursday, the President-elect announced a 13-man Presidential Inauguration Committee that will be responsible for the planning of a week-long event that will usher him and his VP-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, in as President and Vice-President of the country.
In a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, a former Senator representing Borno North and current National Deputy Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Abubakar Kyari, will be Coordinator and Director of Finance and Budget of the Committee.
The Executive Director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, Stella Okotiete, will serve as the head of Secretariat, Planning and Monitoring, while Mr Makinde Araoye, an ex-APC governorship aspirant from Ekiti State, will serve as the Director of venue, parades and swearing-in for the week-long event.
Presidential Campaign Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, will serve as Head of Media and Publicity, while National Women Leader of the APC, Dr Betta Edu, will coordinate the medical team for the inauguration committee.
Col. Abdulazeez Yar’Adua, a younger brother of late Nigeria’s President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, will act as the Head of Security and Ceremonial while Mrs Zainab Buba Marwa, will coordinate the pre-inauguration dinner and gala night for the committee.
Other members of the committee include Samira Saddik to take care of Children’s Day and Abuh Andrew Abuh will handle Accommodation. Dr Danladi Bako will deliver the Inaugural Lecture, while Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Kabir will take charge of Transportation and Logistics.
Former Special Adviser to VP Yemi Osinbajo on N- Power, Donald Wokoma, will take care of Protocol and Invitation.
Bishop Adegbite will conduct the Church Service and Imam Faud, the Jumat Service.
Tinubu is expected to be inaugurated as Nigeria’s fifth elected President in a colourful ceremony in Abuja on May 29, 2023.
THEWILL recalls that on Wednesday, April 19, he struck a presidential tone in a statement calling on the police to probe the Adamawa supplementary governorship election that was nearly bungled by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Tunusa-Ari, who illegally declared the candidate of the APC, Senator Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, as governor-elect while collation was still going on.
Incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was later declared the rightful winner by the Independent National Electoral Commissioner, INEC, having polled 430, 861 votes against 393,788 by ‘Binani’.
Tinubu, who called for a thorough investigation of “all that transpired” in the election, reminded Nigerians of his imminent swearing-in.
He said; “With the conclusion of the 2023 elections, I now welcome all of us who have been elected to brace up to serve our people with diligence and dedication and to join hands with me as your President-elect in the pursuit of our agenda to renew the hopes of our people in a better, stronger, more secure, economically vibrant and prosperous Nigeria.”
Tinubu’s media aide, Rahman, did not respond to phone calls seeking his reaction to new developments.
However, there are strong indications that the President-elect has penciled down close and trusted aides for appointment before meeting party big wigs for discussion on an enlarged team.
Last Friday morning, President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu exchanged Eid greetings in a phone call to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Both leaders thanked God Almighty for seeing this day and prayed for the stability and the wellbeing of the nation.
A statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), said President Buhari expressed his readiness to welcome Asiwaju Tinubu to the State House as President on May 29.
