Shortly after his inauguration as President Muhammadu Buhari's successor, President Bola Tinubu has reportedly made plans to seek medical treatment abroad according to sources familiar with the matter. This development has raised significant concerns about his health, which has been a subject of discussion throughout the campaign period.
Tinubu has been facing health challenges for some time, evident from his multiple trips to France this year for medical attention.
Given the past experiences of President Buhari's frequent travels to the United Kingdom for medical reasons during his first tenure, Nigerians have expressed doubts about Tinubu's fitness to hold the office of the President.
However, Tinubu's ascension to the presidency, despite lacking popular support, has raised questions about the fairness of the electoral process, with allegations of collusion between the Buhari administration and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Before the presidential election on February 25th, Tinubu was notably absent from various high-profile events, including the presidential debate and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) conference last year. His running mate, Kashim Shettima, represented him on these occasions.
Likewise, Tinubu was conspicuously absent from an inauguration lecture organized in his honor at the International Conference Center in Abuja. While the exact reasons for his absence remain unknown, speculation about his health has been fueled by the lack of information provided by Shettima, who stood in for Tinubu.
A video capturing a frail Tinubu struggling to stand during the inauguration ceremony has gone viral, with the footage showing him requiring assistance from a military general present beside him. This visual evidence has further deepened concerns about his well-being among Nigerians.