African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu is receiving medical treatment in France, amid continued public attention over the President’s prolonged stay outside Nigeria.
Sowore made the allegation on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, claiming that Tinubu’s absence from the country was linked to his health.
The AAC candidate said the President’s occasional public appearances were being used to create the impression that he was carrying out his duties normally, while alleging that he was actually receiving treatment in France.
Sowore also drew comparisons with the prolonged overseas medical trips of former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigerians were previously given similar explanations concerning the health of the two former leaders.
The allegation came after Tinubu extended his stay abroad beyond the initial three-week working vacation announced by the Presidency.
He left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency, however, has rejected concerns over Tinubu’s health, saying the President is “hale and hearty” and has continued to perform his official duties while abroad. It said Tinubu was on a working vacation and was expected to return to Nigeria this week.
While in France, the Presidency said Tinubu had remained in contact with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs, including engagements linked to a proposed $7bn deep-sea port project in Ogun State.
As of the latest official information, no medical evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate Sowore’s allegation that Tinubu is hospitalised in France, leaving the claim disputed between the opposition politician and the Presidency.
