The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said that the “president-elect”, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did not go to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the Ramadan celebration as claimed by his handlers.
Tinubu’s handlers had claimed that the ailing former Lagos State governor who travelled to Paris, France shortly after the March 18 elections, for medical services, was in Mecca for the Ramadan celebration.
Tinubu’s true state of health has also been shrouded in secrecy as his political party, APC, had insisted that he embarked on the foreign trip to rest after strenuous campaign activities.
But Sowore on Saturday said that Tinubu’s handlers lied about his going to Mecca, saying that Tinubu was never with Buhari and was not seen anywhere in Mecca.
The human rights activist added that everything about Tinubu had remained hidden since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the presidential election amid controversies and criticism by many Nigerians and the international community.
On Twitter on Saturday, Sowore said, “Bola Tinubu @officialABAT wasn’t seen anywhere in Mecca (some of his handlers claimed he briefly travelled there) but he was never with @mbuhari and his tightly controlled apparitions in France are largely controlled but unverifiable sightings.
“What’s Tinubu’s real health condition? Why is everything hidden since his selection and departure to France where he seems to be on an Island?”
SaharaReporters had on April 4 reported that Tinubu barred his aides, visitors and handlers of his social media handles from using mobile phones not approved of in France to avoid revealing the severity of his ailment.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported in March that Tinubu travelled to Europe some days after the governorship and State Assembly elections to seek medical care after falling ill.
It was gathered that Tinubu fell ill after the “hectic” electioneering that led to his emergence as the ‘President-elect’ and the tension that built up ahead of the March 18 Lagos State governorship and House of Assembly elections where he also voted.
Tinubu had confirmed SaharaReporters’ story saying he travelled to Paris, France and the United Kingdom to rest and plan the transition programme, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Tunde Rahman.
Rahman said Tinubu would later go to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
“After a very exhaustive campaign and election season, President-elect, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has travelled abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29, 2023 inauguration.
“The President-elect left the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja for Europe on Tuesday night.
“The President-elect decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) and the Ramadan Fasting that begins Thursday,” he had said.
“While away, the President-elect will also use the opportunity to plan his transition programme. He is expected back in the country soon.”
A top source later in March told SaharaReporters that Tinubu was still being attended to by medical doctors at the facility he went to in Paris, France.
SaharaReporters on March 23 reported that Tinubu was still being attended to by medical doctors at the facility he travelled to in Paris, France.
SaharaReporters in February reported that a video went viral on social media showing Tinubu with suspected pee stains on his attire during a visit to the Awujale of Ijebuland.
Tinubu, who was seated on a black leather couch alongside some other party stalwarts had risen to give a speech but his attire had soaked from behind, particularly at the butt area.
The politician’s security aide was seen constantly holding his nose while looking at the wet area and another woman immediately wore her face mask as the Asiwaju rose to speak.
This heightened concerns over Tinubu’s health challenges ahead of the presidential election.
