The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu returned quietly to Nigeria on Friday after spending months overseas for medical care.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported
his planned return to a “grand welcome” organised by his political associates
However, due to his inability to
stand the rigours of a physical rally, the ex-Lagos governor quietly entered
into the country, shunning any fanfare.
SaharaReporters had reported that a
grand welcome was being arranged at the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja, Lagos
for the politician.
However, top sources confirmed his
‘early’ return to SaharaReporters on Friday.
“Tinubu has quietly returned tonight.
He returned quietly but can’t stand the rigours of a physical rally.
“He arrived on a Falcon jet with
registration number CP-CBT. The tracking for the jet is blocked on aviation
tracking platforms,” a source disclosed.
It was also learnt that among those
at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to meet Tinubu was the
state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
SaharaReporters further learnt that
the APC chieftain did not get down from his aircraft after his arrival.
“His passport was stamped from Quits
Aviation but he departed from Evergreen hangar at the airport,” a source said.
Meanwhile, the APC in Lagos State
had sent out a circular to its leaders across the state informing them that the
Sunday welcome party being organised for Tinubu would not be held as earlier
scheduled.
SaharaReporters learnt that the APC
sent the circular, signed by Alhaji Tunde Balogun (APC State Chairman), and
Alhaji Maroun Are (GAC Secretary) to the party leaders believably at the ward
and local government levels, without giving a specific reason for the change of
plan.
SaharaReporters, however, gathered
that the cancellation was due to the exclusive report published by this medium,
which forced them to abort it abruptly.
“They’ve cancelled the police
college event meant to welcome Tinubu back to Nigeria. It was due to the exposé
of the media report by SaharaReporters,” a top source revealed.
In the circular obtained by
SaharaReporters on Friday, the APC leaders were told that a new arrangement for
welcoming Tinubu would be announced later.
“Dear leader/GAC member, you are
hereby informed of change in plans/arrival of our National Leader billed for
Sunday. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the plans/arrival have been put on hold.
A new plan/arrival will be unfolded soon. Sorry for any inconvenience this hold
may have caused. Thank you,” the notice said.
SaharaReporters had reported that
Tinubu confirmed that he went through a challenging health crisis, saying his
“physiotherapy was gruesome.”
Tinubu said this while addressing
members of the House of Representatives northern caucus who visited him in
London last Friday.
The former governor, who had been in
the United Kingdom for the last three months since undergoing knee surgery,
told the gathering, “Because of God and people like you, I am well. It is just
the physio (physiotherapy) that is gruesome.”
Since his departure, Tinubu’s London
home has become a mecca of sorts as he has been visited by President Muhammadu
Buhari, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila;
Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu
(Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
SaharaReporters had also reported
that Fayemi confirmed that Tinubu had surgery recently and he (Fayemi) was in
London to show solidarity with him.
The governor had said, “He
(Akeredolu) and I were in London together to see our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, but it had absolutely nothing to do with 2023 presidential plans
whatsoever. That’s not the reason why we went there.
“Asiwaju had just surgery; it is
simply proper etiquette or behaviour both in the part of the country where I
come from but also generally that when a friend and elder is undergoing health
challenges, it would be improper on your part not to show solidarity and
support.”
President Muhammadu Buhari also made
a surprise visit to Tinubu in London where he was seen leaning on a walking stick.
SaharaReporters had reported that
Tinubu underwent knee surgery at the John Hopkins University Hospital in
Maryland, US.
The APC chieftain, it was learnt,
left the US for the United Kingdom on crutches, a few days after the surgery.
Sources close to Tinubu told
SaharaReporters that he wanted the surgery in Paris, France but changed his
plan after rumours of his death spread in Nigeria.
“Tinubu had his second surgery at
John Hopkins University in Maryland recently. He was accompanied by a popular
Nigerian doctor in Chicago. He had wanted the surgery in Paris but when rumour
was rife about his death, he hurriedly left for Nigeria and went to John
Hopkins,” one of the sources had said.
"He left the US for the UK on
crutches," another source revealed.
SaharaReporters had on July 31
reported that Tinubu, who has had several medical trips this year alone, had
surgery about two weeks earlier and could be billed for another one.
The APC National Leader has been off
official and party functions in the country for a while, amidst talks that he
is being positioned for the 2023 presidency to succeed the incumbent repressive
regime of Buhari.
“Tinubu is hospitalised in Maryland,
US. His health is failing. He couldn’t participate in launching his Arewa
library, and he couldn’t participate in the Local Government Area elections
last week. He could not attend today’s APC congress due to health reasons.
“He had a surgery last week,” an
authoritative source had disclosed.
A few days after the story,
photographs of Tinubu hosting Sanwo-Olu in London surfaced where the duo were
seen together in a room.
Reports had it that the meeting was
held to put an end to speculations surrounding the APC National Leader’s health
status.
In January 2021, Tinubu was also
reported to be ill and hospitalised in Paris, France.
Tinubu had earlier complained of
exhaustion and travelled out to rest before the news of his collapse went
viral.
He was flown to Paris for medical
attention in the first week of January.
SaharaReporters had on June 15 reported
that Tinubu was also in Paris, battling with some old-age ailment.
“Tinubu is in Paris, France for a
medical checkup. His health is deteriorating. Old age and other stuff, but he
still wants to be president. This could mean another medical tourism presidency
for our country,” a top source had revealed at that time.
Culled
From Sahara Reporter
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