In a rare and unusual circumstance, the Presidency did not release any picture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s return trip to Nigeria after two weeks abroad.
Since Tinubu took charge of the country a year ago, his aides and Presidency officials have consistently released pictures and videos of his arrival and departure from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Nigeria’s capital city.
During such moments, top government officials such as Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, Governors, among others bid farewell and welcome the president.
However, Tinubu’s return on Wednesday was announced in a news flash by NTA.
“President Bola Tinubu returns to Abuja after his trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia,” the government-owned media outlet posted on social media, without a single picture or video, triggering reactions.
Like NTA, none of the accounts of the Presidential aides or supporters posted multimedia content of Tinubu’s return trip.
Although the APC UK posted a video on its X handle while welcoming Tinubu back to the country, checks by Daily Trust showed that it is an old video, in fact that of February 6, 2024, when the President returned to the country after a private visit to France.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s return without videos or pictures has set tongues wagging among Nigerians on X.
Commenting on the issue, an X user who tweeted via @SnipesLyon wrote: “Show videos.”
@WAghwarito98347 wrote: “No videos just news…..omoh our President never come back….make he address is as before na abi there’s more to it?”
@MaziEzike_Nedu: “Audio return trip. Show us the President. He is usually welcomed by his cabinet 🗄”
@mr_richjoel: “We don’t want these pictures… We need videos of him stepping down the jet with the Governor’s welcoming him.”
@alakowee: “Na lie una dey like, make una show us video. Tinubu that likes to show off. He will return and his video won’t be on Twitter NG. Una dey whine?”
@agent_freedom: “Where is the video that he returns.”
@prolific4ØØ: “show us the video or pictures.”
@Ansersonjean: “Oga drop the video 📹 this one is for audio playback.”
Unknown destination after official trips
The President had, on April 23, left Abuja for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on an official visit.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had, in a statement, said the visit was on the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
From The Netherlands, he had proceeded to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, after the event ended, the President’s next destination was shrouded in secrecy, fuelling speculations that he had gone on a medical trip to France.
Two credible sources had independently told Daily Trust that the President proceeded to London from the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
One of our two sources, a highly placed official at the Presidency, told one of our reporters that the president “is at the moment in London on a private visit.”
The official, who asked not to be mentioned, declined further comments on the reason for the President’s visit in London.
Special Adviser to the President on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, later confirmed that Tinubu headed for Europe from Saudi Arabia, although he was not precise about the European country.
In a post on his X handle, on Tuesday, Onanuga had announced that the President would return to Nigeria on Wednesday.
He wrote: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe.”
Shettima’s aborted trip
While the dust was yet to settle on the whereabouts of Nigeria’s number one citizen, the office of Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced that the nation’s number two man was heading for a summit in US.
This had triggered backlash as Nigerians wondered how those in charge could leave the country in the middle of storms, particularly nationwide fuel scarcity.
But just as the debate was raging, particularly on social media, Shettima’s media team announced that the US trip had been aborted for the Vice President to carry on with “national duties”.
However, the cancellation was attributed to technical fault, a rare occurrence for jets in the Presidential fleet.
Several attempts to reach Onanuga for clarifications on the president’s return trip were unsuccessful as calls were not answered.