Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has said the president is still on two weeks leave and can travel wherever he likes.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr Tinubu departed Nigeria on October 2 for a two-week vacation in the UK, as part of his annual leave.
A statement issued by the presidency at the time said Mr Tinubu would use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.
On Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on political and other matters, Ibrahim Masari, said he met with the President at his private residence in the United Kingdom.
He disclosed that Mr Tinubu would be departing the United Kingdom for Paris, France, where he was expected to attend an “important engagement”.
In a post on his verified X handle,@KabirIbrah64, Mr Masari said: “Today, I had the honor of visiting President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR at his private residence in the United Kingdom, where we engaged in productive discussions. We then departed for Paris, France, for another important engagement.”
However, the post triggered condemnation from many Nigerians who accused him of wasting taxpayers money junketting around the world while citizens are subjected to excruciating hardship.
But defending the president, Mr Onanuga waved off the critics, saying the president reserves the right to visit any country of his choice.
“President Tinubu is on leave for two weeks. He is not restricted to the UK. It is his private time.
“He can go to anywhere he so desires. He is still observing his leave,” Mr Onanuga wrote on his X handle.
