Tinubu Doesn’t Need To Be In Nigeria To Work — Presidency

The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s continued stay outside Nigeria, saying the President is healthy and remains involved in the affairs of the country despite being away on his annual vacation.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the explanation in a statement on Sunday amid questions from Nigerians and opposition figures about Tinubu’s whereabouts after his extended stay abroad.

The statement, released on Sunday, addressed questions about both the President’s vacation and his absence from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Also Read : APC State Chairmen Reject Wike’s Coalition, Ask Him to Dump PDP

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a three-week working vacation in Europe. The Presidency later announced that he had extended the trip by a few days. The President was initially expected to return around the weekend, but his continued absence has led to renewed public discussion about his whereabouts.

Presidency: Tinubu Working While Abroad

Onanuga said Tinubu’s physical absence from Abuja did not mean that he had stopped performing his official duties as President.

“Nigeria’s President is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to. In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023.”

The presidential aide said Tinubu had continued to hold meetings and engage in activities linked to Nigeria’s economic interests while abroad.

“And we have seen that he has indeed been working, meeting investors in France, most recently facilitating a $7 billion deep-sea port in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.”

The State House has also reported that Tinubu held meetings in Paris with investors and participated in discussions connected to the proposed Ogun Waterside deep-sea port project in Ogun State.

UNGA Absence Draws Attention

Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York has also attracted attention. Vice President Kashim Shettima was instead assigned to lead Nigeria’s delegation and represent the President at the global meeting.

Addressing the issue, Onanuga pointed to the absence of other African leaders from the UNGA.

“Two other important African leaders were not in New York for the UNGA: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

“Ramaphosa booked himself off public engagements. Johannesburg and Pretoria made no uproar over Ramaphosa’s absence at UNGA. And Egypt did not erupt that Sisi did not go to New York.

“The Nigerian President announced he was taking his annual vacation and delegated attendance to his able and dependable Vice President. Yet Peter Obi pretends to be unaware of President Tinubu’s whereabouts and asks the puerile question his followers are asking on X.”

The Presidency had earlier said Shettima was representing Tinubu at the UNGA because the President was on annual leave. It also maintained that delegating the assignment to the Vice President did not reduce Nigeria’s representation at the international gathering.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week as the country prepares to mark its 66th Independence Anniversary.

He also said the President would honour the late businessman and democracy campaigner, MKO Abiola, by attending the premiere of a movie produced in his memory in Lagos.

The Presidency’s explanation comes as calls for more information about the President’s extended stay outside the country continue. The African Democratic Congress has also demanded clarity over the extension of Tinubu’s vacation, particularly because his originally announced three-week leave has elapsed.