By Augustine Ehikioya
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few more days and is now expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, United Kingdom, to begin his working vacation.
After spending a week in London, the President travelled to Paris, France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
In a statement on Monday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had remained in touch with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of the country while away.
According to the statement, the President, among other directives, ordered the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
While away, Tinubu also delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official functions.
On the political front, Onanuga said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading consultations involving prominent party leaders and traditional rulers across the country.
The Presidency also dismissed as “baseless insinuation” claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by a former convict regarding Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly.
Vice President Shettima is representing the President at the global gathering and will deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
