Prior to Wednesday’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, President Bola Tinubu flew from London to Lagos on Tuesday evening.
At 5:05 p.m. local time, Tinubu’s Gulfstream plane touched down at Ikeja’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, where he was met by a swarm of eager supporters.
This closes his one-week trip to London for a private visit as well as Paris, where he joined a meeting for a New Global Financing Pact convened by the French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Presidency had disclosed on Saturday that Tinubu had postponed his anticipated return to Abuja that day.
“Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to be back in Abuja on Saturday, will now proceed to London, United Kingdom, for a short private visit,” a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, read.
Although the statement was silent on the particular day of Tinubu’s return, Presidency sources confirmed to The ANAEDOONLINE that the Nigerian leader would return to his private Ikoyi home in Lagos later on Tuesday to observe his first Sallah celebration as President.
“I am certain that he will return to Lagos tomorrow (Tuesday), not Abuja. That’s where he will observe Sallah.
“The holiday lasts until Thursday, he may extend his stay till Sunday or Monday next week before he returns to Abuja,” the source said.
He returns amidst uncertainty about his list of prospective ministers, which, according to another source, is almost ready to be sent to the National Assembly.
JUST IN: Tinubu Off To London For Private Visit
“I learned that Tinubu’s Ministerial list is almost done. He kept a core of Ministers to himself, heavily influenced by the kitchen cabinet of SAs. The politicians are in Bolekaja over the rest. It’s a slugfest now,” said the source.
In March, the then Special Adviser to the president-elect, Alake, said Tinubu would convene his cabinet within one month of assuming office.
Alake said this is in line with the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution mandating presidents-elect and governors-elect to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly.
He said, “I told you in an earlier interview that it didn’t take Asiwaju more than three weeks to form his cabinet as governor.
“That was as at that time. I think 60 days is even too much.
“A month, maximum, is enough for any serious government to form its cabinet and put a structure of government in place after the swearing-in.”
In 2015, Nigerians lamented the delay by the Buhari administration in appointing ministers, which took about six months to form its cabinet.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, departed Abuja for Maiduguri, Borno State, where he will be observing this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.
Our correspondent learned that he is due to return within the weekend.
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