Sen. Bola Tinubu, the president-elect returned to Abuja on Monday after a month-long trip to Paris. He said he returned strong and ready to work.
One of his media aides Mr Tunde Rahman quoted Tinubu in a statement issued on Monday as saying: “I am ready for the task ahead.”
“I have rested; I am refreshed and I am ready for the task ahead.
“Forget about what the rumour mill may have told you. I’m strong; very strong.’’
On his plans for the country, he said he had been consulting and planning, with a view to putting together, a strong team, so he could hit the ground running once he assumed office on May 29.
Tinubu returned to Nigeria aboard his private jet, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi and son, Seyi.
A mammoth crowd of enthusiastic associates and supporters received the couple at Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Among those at the airport to receive him were Vice-President-elect Sen. Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau.
Others were Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger, a former Borno governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, and a former Chairman of the EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Also at the airport, were the Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abubakar Kyari and his counterpart in the South, Mr Emma Enekwu.
Present also were APC National Woman Leader, Dr Betta Edu and Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director, Media and Publicity, of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
Sens. Barau Jibril, Adeola Yayi, Opeyemi Bamidele, Dayo Adeyeye, Sabi Abdullahi, Adelere Oriolowo, and Secretary of the dissolved (PCC, James Faleke were also at the airport to receive Tinubu.
The president-elect left Nigeria on March 21 for Paris on vacation after a hectic campaign and election season.
Meanwhile, a close ally of the president-elect and the Secretary of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke, disclosed that the former Lagos governor spent more of his time consulting with stakeholders.
He stated that the majority of the party faithful were excited to see him.
Continuing, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives disclosed that the campaign team lost a number of undisclosed supporters.
He said, “We are excited about his arrival. As you can see, everybody wanted to go to the airport to receive him. Why? Because there was a restriction at the presidential lounge. But those who had access to the place were at least happy to see him looking very refreshed and ready to actualize the ‘Renewed Hope’ campaign slogan.
“For me, I think that the president-elect had time to think over all the issues that we raised during the campaign and all the issues that are germane to Nigerians for the survival of this country.
“We give God the glory that he has come back to meet all of us. In between (when he travelled and returned), we lost some people and we pray that God will accept their souls.
“Remember that Asiwaju said that he has yet to finish consulting with the people. You know that he’s a man of consultation. Before the primaries, he consulted. Before the election, he repeated the same thing and he is still willing to consult. You know, nobody can fault Asiwaju when it comes to consultation.
“He’s not going to start telling you that I am consulting Mr this and that. I’m sure while he was there resting, he was also making consultations on issues and things that are before him that he wants to execute. I think that we should just wait until after May 29 to see how this agenda will roll out.”
