Tinubu extends vacation, as Atiku questions President’s continued absence
The Presidency has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will extend his working vacation by a few days and is scheduled to return to Nigeria over the weekend.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency noted that President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before moving to Paris, France.
The Presidential spokesperson noted that during the President’s time abroad, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and business leaders, while continuing to direct national affairs including ordering an independent panel to investigate the recent deaths of detainees in Minna.
Addressing criticisms regarding the President’s attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, the Presidency dismissed insinuations from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a US-based lobbying firm as irresponsible, pointing out that Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria at the global conference in New York.
Reacting however, former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar argued that 21 days had elapsed since the President’s departure and demanded to know who is currently exercising presidential authority, citing Section 145 of the Constitution.
The former Vice President contended that no formal letter transmitting power to the Vice President has been made public, warning that the country “cannot be governed on autopilot” amid severe economic pressures, such as petrol prices reaching up to ₦1,500 per litre, and mounting security challenges.
Atiku further argued that the administration cannot bypass legal frameworks under the guise of an informal leave, emphasizing that, “the Constitution does not recognise a working vacation as an alternative system of presidential succession. It provides a procedure. That procedure must be obeyed.”
Highlighting pressures such as petrol prices surging to ₦1,500 per litre, severe economic hardship, and mounting security challenges, the former Vice President noted that the leadership vacuum is compounded by the simultaneous absence of key officials abroad.
“At a time of severe economic hardship, rising energy costs, security challenges and the shocking deaths of citizens in government custody, the country deserves visible, accountable and constitutionally grounded leadership. The question will not disappear: Who, constitutionally, is in charge of Nigeria?” Atiku wrote.