President-elect Bola Tinubu has just returned to Nigeria after a month-long vacation in Paris, France.
His minders say the 71-year-old former Governor of Lagos, travelled abroad for a deserved rest after a gruelling electioneering campaign, amid insinuations that the nation’s President-elect is battling an undisclosed ailment which necessitated his clandestine, foreign trip.
Upon his return today, Monday, April 24, Tinubu declared himself “hale and hearty” and fit as a fiddle, ahead of his inauguration as Nigeria’s 16th President on May 29, 2023.
However, eagle-eyed social media users spotted a syringe-like, tube-like contraption beneath Tinubu’s ‘agbada’ as you can see encircled in the image in the tweet below:
VAR Update!!!
(What Does Tinubu Have Under His Arm On His Return To Nigeria?)It's called a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Line.
What's it used for?
Should we be worried?
I will explain.#OdogwuTakes. pic.twitter.com/alTs8BROgG— SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) (@Sports_Doctor2) April 24, 2023
– What Is A PICC Line?
It is a long, thin tube that's inserted through a vein in your arm and passed through to the larger veins near your heart.
It is generally used to give medications or liquid nutrition to a patient.
It can help prevent frequent needle sticks. pic.twitter.com/V61Z3H3fhA
— SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) (@Sports_Doctor2) April 24, 2023
The object was spotted as Tinubu waved at supporters and admirers who had thronged the Airport in Abuja to welcome him home.
You can also see the object sticking out from one of the photos posted on Tinubu’s personal Twitter handle, if you zoom closely. So, this isn’t made up stuff.
I am extremely excited to be back home and deeply humbled by the warm welcome I received on my return to Abuja today.
Thank you all for your love and support. Our promise to deliver a nation of Renewed Hope for all Nigerians remains in motion. pic.twitter.com/JlYVmrgg8X
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) April 24, 2023
A medical doctor who uses the name @Sports_Doctor2 on Twitter, says the object strapped to Tinubu’s right arm is called a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Line.
What’s it used for?
According to the doctor, “a PICC Line is a long, thin tube that’s inserted through a vein in your arm and passed through to the larger veins near your heart.
“It is generally used to give medications or liquid nutrition to a patient. It can help prevent frequent needle sticks.”
He adds that the PICC Line is “used to deliver drugs and other treatments directly to large central veins near the heart.
“PICC line is recommended in the following conditions;
1. Cancer treatment
– Chemotherapy is delivered through a PICC line.
2. Liquid Nutrition
– If the body can’t process nutrients from food due to digestive system problems, a PICC line is recommended.
3. Infection Treatment
– Antibiotics and antifungal medicines can be given through a PICC line for serious infection.
4. Other Medications
– Some medicines can irritate the small veins, and giving these treatments through the PICC line reduces that risk.
Back story
Doubts had been cast over Tinubu’s health, long before he declared his intention to run for the number one office in the land.
In October 2021, Tinubu returned to Nigeria after he had spent several weeks abroad recuperating from a “knee surgery.”
He has also spent extended periods outside of Nigeria’s shores since the knee surgery.
On the campaign trail, Tinubu mangled his speeches, stuttered, stumbled and trembled. He was the epitome of a man struggling with his health.
There was also one disturbing image of presidential aspirant Tinubu ostensibly peeing on himself, just days after declaring he was going to run for the Office of President.
Tinubu (APC) polled 8,794,726 votes to win the February 25 presidential election. His victory is being challenged at the election petition tribunal by Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (LP) who polled second and third respectively.