President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday afternoon left Nigeria for Europe on “a working visit.” This is coming as an angry legal expert observed that a President-elect cannot embark on a “working visit” abroad.

However, a statement signed by Tunde Rahman, of the Office of the President-elect, noted that Tinubu “will use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

“During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

“Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up”, his spokesperson stated.

The President-elect, the statement added, “hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.

“Before he left the country, Asíwájú Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by Joint Task Team of the House.

“He is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing in as the 16th President of the country on May 29, 2023”, the statement read.

Pondit Fumes

However, an anonymous public affairs commentator in a reaction said emphatically that a “President-elect cannot embark on a working visit abroad.

“Stop making nonsense of whatever is left of this country. A working visit presupposes that he is acting in an official capacity. If so, that’s legally unfounded.

“Section 140 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides thus: “A person elected to the office of President shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and he has taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.”

“This lie is unnecessary and irritating.

“Why can’t Tibunu admit that he is sick and has traveled out of the country again for medical treatment?

“The disdain for citizens of this country by politicians is unparalleled”, the commentator said.

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