Nigeria’s Presidency has clarified that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kassim Shettima are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away adding that there is no leadership vacuum in the country.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who made the clarification said it became necessary following several inquiries from journalists as to who is in charge of the country’s affairs in the absence of the two topmost Nigerian leaders.
“President Tinubu left the country on 3 October and is on a two-week working vacation. During this time, he has been busy answering phones and issuing directives on matters of state. He will soon return to the country before the vacation officially expires”, Onanuga explained.
He went further, “The vice president departed the country Wednesday for Sweden on an official visit, working for Nigeria.
“All state organs are functioning as usual. The Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, and Service Chiefs are all in their respective positions, ensuring the smooth operation of the government”, Onanuga added.
The Special Adviser also stressed that this situation is not strange as it had happened before not only in this administration but also in the immediate past administration without any halt in government’s activities.
” We had a similar situation in 2022 when former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were found to be simultaneously out of the country. President Buhari attended UNGA 77, while Osinbajo participated in the burial of Queen Elizabeth ll.
“We have also experienced it during this administration. Between late April and early May this year, while President Tinubu was in London, after visiting the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, where he attended the World Economic Forum, Vice President Shettima left Nigeria, first of all for Nairobi to attend the International Development Association (IDA21) Heads of State Summit.
” After returning, he left for Dallas, Texas, to attend the US-Africa Business Summit organised by the Corporate Council on Africa. President Tinubu returned home on 8 May. During this time, the government’s machinery did not halt.
Onanuga, exploring the legal perspective, opined that there is no constitutional breach committed.
“The Constitution, a testament to our adaptability in the virtual age, does not explicitly require the physical presence of either the president or the vice president in the country at all times to fulfil his duties.