TINUBU HAS SHOWN NIGERIANS HE PREFERS LEAVING NIGERIA ON ‘AUTO PILOT’

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Ladan Salihu, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged stay in Europe, accusing him of leaving Nigeria on “auto pilot” while away from the country.

Salihu, a former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday.

He said Tinubu’s absence from Nigeria between August 30 and September 29 amounted to what he described as “contempt of leadership on the led.”

“President Bola Tinubu has clearly shown Nigerians that he prefers leading Nigeria on autopilot or leaving Nigeria on autopilot and staying more abroad to discuss with President Macron and being in London to what he called a working vacation.

“This is a classical contempt of leadership on the led. Through his absence from August 30 to yesterday, September 29, we have not had a word, not even a video feed from the President,” Salihu said.

He also criticised the President over insecurity and other challenges reported during his absence.

“During the President’s absence, Nigeria has undergone a lot of trauma, trauma of insecurity, killings of people,” he said, citing the reported deaths of 37 miners in Niger State as well as alleged killings and kidnappings in Zamfara State.

Salihu argued that a president concerned about the welfare and security of Nigerians would have returned to the country to address the challenges.

“A president that has the interest of Nigerians at heart, the welfare and well-being and the security of the citizens as the core aspect of his leadership will easily have called off his trip, come back to Nigeria, address the myriad of political, economic and insecurity issues,” he said.

The ADC chieftain also questioned the President’s communication with Nigerians while abroad.

“When he travels abroad, and he stays this long, it shows contempt towards the citizens, contempt towards the very office of leadership in the land and he is showing his lack of capacity and capability to run,” Salihu said.

He said Tinubu should have addressed Nigerians directly while abroad, particularly following reports of deaths and insecurity.

“If you are in London, Paris, give us a video feed to commiserate, to sympathise with Nigerians over the death of 37 citizens; we didn’t see that. We only saw people in the Villa, Bayo Onanuga, replying to Nigerians.

“Bayo Onanuga is not the President we want to hear from. President Bola Tinubu is who we want to hear from while and whenever he is abroad,” he said.

Tinubu returns after four-week working vacation

Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks abroad. The State House said the President ended his working vacation in Paris and travelled to Lagos, where he is scheduled to attend Independence Day engagements and hold political meetings.

The President departed Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency initially described as a three-week working vacation, spending a week in London before proceeding to Paris.

During his stay in France, Tinubu met French President Emmanuel Macron and business leaders, including Bolloré Group Chairman Vincent Bolloré and First HoldCo Chairman Femi Otedola. He also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a Gateway Deep Sea Port and Blue Marine Economic Zone in Ogun State.

The Presidency later announced that Tinubu had extended his working vacation by a few days, saying he remained in touch with officials and continued to direct government affairs while away.

Tinubu’s absence defended

Tinubu’s prolonged stay abroad had drawn criticism from opposition figures, particularly over his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the gathering and delivered the country’s national statement on Tinubu’s behalf. Shettima returned to Nigeria on September 28 after leading the Nigerian delegation to the UNGA.

The Presidency defended the arrangement, maintaining that Tinubu’s trip was a working vacation and that he continued to direct the affairs of government remotely.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had also argued that Tinubu did not need to be physically present in Abuja to discharge his responsibilities in the digital age.

‘Healthy, sound and ready to go’

Speaking to journalists after his return to Lagos on Tuesday, Tinubu said he enjoyed his four-week stay in Europe and dismissed concerns about his health.

Asked how the vacation was, the President said, “I enjoyed myself. Fantastic.”

Asked about concerns raised by some Nigerians, including some of his supporters, over his health, Tinubu said, “Ready to kick, ready to walk. There’s nothing wrong.

“Rumour will always be emanating from politics, but the facts remain: I’m here. Healthy, sound, and ready to go.”

Tinubu’s return came ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.

He is expected to participate in activities marking the anniversary in Lagos, including the premiere of a documentary on the late businessman and politician, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre.

The President is also expected to hold political meetings in Lagos before returning to Abuja.