Tinubu Returns to Abuja from Paris

Deji  Elumoye in  Abuja

President Bola Tinubu arrived Abuja yesterday night from Paris, France, where, sources say, he had been observing a short break.

The President, who landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was received by his Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and other top government officials.

He was earlier in New York, United States where he attended the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and then flew to France after the summit.

Tinubu’s convoy was seen arriving at his official residence in the Aso Rock Villa at 09:47 pm yesterday.

He arrived barely 48 hours to Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day anniversary and four days to the planned nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

Tinubu is expected to address the nations in a televised broadcast at 7:00am on Sunday.

At UNGA, Tinubu condemned the spate of military coups in Africa describing them as wrong and unreflective of the collective aspirations of Africans.

He said their pervasiveness does not imply Africa’s support for unconstitutional change of government but “a demand for solutions to perennial problems.”

“We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice,” Tinubu said in his maiden address to his counterparts during the general debate.

The Nigerian leader argued, “the wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.”

He also met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Corporation (OIC), Hissein Brahmin Taha, on the sidelines of UNGA, discussing the role that the Islamic world would need to play in Africa’s development and sustenance of peace.

President Tinubu also met with the global leadership of the ExxonMobil, led by its President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon, telling company that Nigeria is primed for the best business deals at the moment.

On Wednesday, September 20, he met with the Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, to ask for the global body’s support in the African continent’s struggle to preserve its natural resources for its own development, against pillaging by agents of the developed economies.

Also, on Wednesday, September 20, the President  met with the Diaspora Nigerians in the United States, urging them to bring their investments home.