By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday left the country for a working visit to Europe, barely two weeks after his return from an oversea trip where he spent four weeks.
Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor, 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, Tunde Rahman media aide to the incoming President said in a statement on Wednesday.
He is expected to be inaugurated on May 29 after a disputed poll in which the electoral management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the Feb. 25 presidential election.
Muhammadu Buhari, the outgoing President of the over 200 million populated West African country was criticised for his repeated tours across the world, most of which were related to his health issues.
Two weeks to his inauguration, his media office says he has started meeting with “investors” and “key allies” to sell investment opportunities and prepare for a business-friendly environment upon swearing-in.
“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.
“Asíwájú Tinubu 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”, the statement stated further.
Days earlier, the National Working Committee (NWC) of his party, the APC, had released names of preferred presiding officers of the tenth National Assembly expected to be inaugurated next month.
Some party leaders have kicked against the hand-picking of leaders of National Assembly by the party with the endorsement of the incoming President.
Analysts believe this will set the tone for what has been dubbed “rubber stamp” legislature under the 9th National Assembly led by Ahmad Lawan as President.
