ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Tinubu, is under pressure to release photos proving his recent meetings with investors in France, a challenge mounted by the opposition party in a stormy debate surrounding the purpose of his travels abroad.
Tinubu’s trip to France, made just 10 days after his return to Nigeria following a post-election break, sparked controversy and speculation about his health condition.
The President-elect’s visit to France, which was his second trip abroad within a month, raised questions among political observers, with some speculating that it was medical-related.
However, Tinubu’s aide, Tunde Rahman, refuted these speculations. He claimed that the former Lagos State Governor embarked on the trip to carry out tasks without local pressure.
“During his stay, he plans to fine-tune transition plans, programmes, and policy options with some of his aides,” Rahman said in a statement.
Rahman further noted that Tinubu intended to “engage with investors and other key allies” during his visit, attempting to paint a picture of a strategic business-oriented trip.
The President-elect’s return to Nigeria on Saturday, May 20, 2023, has done little to quell the controversy.
Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, immediately challenged Tinubu to produce photos of his meetings with the purported investors in France.
“There were no meetings between Tinubu and any investors in France,” Bwala contended on Twitter.
Now that he has finished his so-called official visit to meet with investors etc.I dare them to release the photos of those meetings. I bet you if they release the photos, the foreign investors would turn out to be Nigerian politicians and Nigerian lobbyists from Nigeria
— D. H Bwala (@BwalaDaniel) May 21, 2023
“I bet you if they release the photos, the foreign investors would turn out to be Nigerian politicians and Nigerian lobbyists from Nigeria.”
Bwala’s demand seems to reference Tinubu’s meeting in France with Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
This meeting, reported by the Daily Post, was not with investors but a well-known political figure.
As the debate intensifies, it is clear that the country awaits more transparency from their future leader.
The spotlight is now on Tinubu to prove his trip to France was indeed a strategic move for the nation’s economic advancement.
This situation underscores the scrutiny faced by political leaders and their need to provide clear and accurate information to the public.
