- * Shouts Of 'Jagaban' Rent The Air At Abuja Airport
By Janet Bassey (Governance Reporter)
The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was agog, on Monday evening, as the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25th, 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arrived from France to a rousing welcome after spending 33 days on post-election vacation.
Tinubu who clad in a navy blue babaringa outfit with his trademark cap, a blue yoruba traditional dog-ear cap to match, was spotted with his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alighting from the bowel of a grey colour bombadier aircraft jet that flew him back to Nigeria at exactly 4:35 pm.
Hordes of pro-Tinubu supporters in the APC, family members, friends, well-wishers and curious persons, thronged the airport to receive him.
Among top politicians and chieftains of the APC that were at the Abuja Airport to welcome him, include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Magnus Abe and Senator (Dr) Nkechi Nwogu, among many others.
An ecstatic and slightly physically refreshed Bola Tinubu was responding to the hailings of 'Jagaban' from the throngs of people who were on ground to welcome him. He, intermittently, blew appreciative kisses with his right palm and at the same time kept throwing a black power salute to the crowd hailing him.
Outside the airport arrival lounge, however, Tinubu confronted more crowd of supporters and people who had come from far and near to welcome him and at the same time, catch a glimpse of him. He was sandwiched by the House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, his wife, Oluremi, Senator Kashim Shettima, his Vice Presidential running mate and some close political allies.
Moments later, the Asiwaju was driven out of the airport at exactly 5:15 pm into the city of Abuja, where more people were already waiting to welcome him at his place of residence. He beamed with smiles as he was being driven off and also kept waving at the crowd of supporters.
On Sunday, April 23rd (yesterday), it was reported on the frontpage of Thisday Newspaper that Bola Tinubu will be returning to the country today after well over a month well deserved long holiday in France, a popular world holiday spot in Europe. The report quoted an unnamed Tinubu "loyalist" as confirming the return of the Asiwaju.
But NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER, a leading Online/Print Newspaper reported same Sunday, that Tinubu's return to the country was long overdue and was being eagerly awaited by his supporters in the country ahead of the May 29 inauguration of a new government.
Some Nigerians who barred their minds to NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondents, expressed their anxiety and dissatisfaction with the delay in the much awaited return of the man with the Northern traditional title of 'Jagaban of Borgu'.
However, the return of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu this Monday evening has finally put-paid to the question of, whether or not, he will be in the country for the May 29 power handover event. NNL.
