Tinubu Extends European Stay Amid Questions Over Leadership
Tinubu has extended his stay abroad while Shettima and Akpabio are also outside Nigeria. Here is what the Presidency says and why questions are growing.
President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days, with the Presidency saying he will return to Nigeria by weekend. Tinubu had left the country on August 30 for a three-week working vacation, initially travelling to London before moving to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The extension comes as Vice President Kashim Shettima is also outside the country, having travelled to New York to represent Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Senate President Godswill Akpabio is also abroad and said on Monday that he travelled to Italy for a pilgrimage, where he prayed for an end to insecurity, banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
The simultaneous absence of the 3 senior political figures has generated reactions and questions from Nigerians and from opposition figures about who is exercising authority in the country. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar questioned the circumstances surrounding Tinubu’s extended stay, while the Presidency maintains that the President has remained in contact with officials at home and continued directing government affairs remotely.
The controversy has also revived discussion around Section 145 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which provides for the temporary transfer of presidential functions when the President is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge his functions. The provision involves a written declaration to the National Assembly, after which the Vice President performs the functions of the President as Acting President.
However, the President and Vice President being outside Nigeria does not by itself mean that presidential powers have automatically transferred to the Senate President.
For now, the Presidency says Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria at the weekend. Until then, his extended stay and the simultaneous overseas trips of other senior officials are likely to remain a subject of public and political discussion.
