……..but assured that he would be back in the country in time for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.
By Edafe Oghenetega:
President Bola Tinubu is set to arrive today from London in preparation for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. The Presidency announced on Saturday that the President had traveled to the UK from France, where he had attended a summit on ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Initially scheduled to return to Abuja on Saturday, Tinubu will now make a brief private visit to London, United Kingdom. The statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake, did not specify the exact day of Tinubu’s return, but assured that he would be back in the country in time for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.
According to sources within the Presidency, it has been confirmed that the Nigerian leader will arrive at his private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday, where he will observe his first Sallah celebration as President.
“I am are certain that he will return to Lagos tomorrow (Tuesday), not Abuja. That’s where he will observe Sallah,” the source said.
He returns amidst uncertainty about his ministerial list, which is almost ready to be sent to the National Assembly.
Another source, who spoke with, said, “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.”
Back in March, Alake, who was the Special Adviser to the President-elect at the time, stated that Tinubu would form his cabinet within a month of assuming office. Alake emphasized that this aligns with the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, which requires Presidents-elect and governors-elect to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner-nominees within 60 days of being sworn in, 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.”
