Barely two weeks after his return from a month’s trip to Saudi Arabia, London and Paris to rest after the long streak of campaign activities, the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday day jetted out of the country to Europe on what his aide described as on a work trip

Coming a couple of weeks to the flag-off of various activities to herald his inauguration and swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for May 29th, 2023, this trip has set many tongues wagging and is eliciting mixed reactions from some Nigerians.

Explaining his trip, his media aide, Mr. Tunde Rahman said that president -elect’s travel was for a working visit and to finetune his transitioning plan.

Mr. Rahman noted that Asiwaju Tinubu will also engage investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing opportunities in the country and his administration readiness to enable a business friendly climate through policies and regulations

He further stated that the trip will afford Tinubu the chance to intimate his policy options without pressure and distraction, explaining that he will convince foreign investors to operate with his administration

The statement reads “During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

“Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.

“Asíwájú Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.

“Before he left the country, Asíwájú Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by the Joint Task Team of the House.”

However, Asiwaju Tinubu’s trip has sparked a range of reactions, with some Nigerians criticizing the trip and speculating that Tinubu’s frequent travels may be due to his health challenge, just like the outgoing President’s frequent trip abroad.

Also, they argued that the president-elect is not permitted by law to travel on business or to meet with investors on behalf of the nation.

Inibehe Effiong, a legal practitioner, charged the president-elect to be honest with Nigerians about his health status, claiming that Asiwaju Tinubu only travelled to cater to his health condition.

“Tinubu does not have the constitutional standing and authority to exercise the functions of the office of President or any executive function whatsoever. He has not taken oath of office and cannot be meeting with investors on behalf of the country. Another season of LIES loading.

“Why is it so difficult for politicians in this country to be honest with citizens about their health status? When will this contemptible way of treating Nigerians end? Why is he going to Europe to “fine-tune transition plans”?

Noting that European leaders and politicians do not come to Africa to plan the affairs of their countries, the Lawyer opined that Nigeria may be in trouble. Section 140 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides as follows: “A person elected to the office of President shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and he has taken and subscribed.

“The Oath of Allegiance and the oath of Office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.” This lie is unnecessary and irritating. Why can’t Tibunu admit that he is sick and has travelled out of the country again for medical treatment?

“A working visit” presupposes that he is acting in an official capacity. He cannot do that without subscribing to the oath of office and oath of allegiance as stated in the Constitution. “He must also declare his assets before he can perform the functions of the office”, he said.

In the same light, Daniel Bwala, a public affairs analyst, and the spokesperson to the PDP presidential candidate also decried Tinubu’s frequent trips to Europe asserting that the president-elect should be in the country for transition planning and programs.

“Now they have learned to call the medical follow-up trip a working trip. Hold on; he is not yet the president, so technically it is wrong to call it a working trip or visit. It is better that his media people learn to humanize him so they do not have to make lies about their statecraft.

“This is the same thing the outgoing president did, and if you know how much Nigerian presidents spend whenever they go on medical trips, you will be surprised.” Also, the constant travelling of the Nigerian president for medical reasons is a threat to the country’s national security,” he said.