The Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and Coalition of United Political Parties, have criticized President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for what they described as their excessive travels abroad.
President Tinubu on Wednesday left for a two-week “working leave” in France while Vice President Shettima left the country for Senegal to attend the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, described the frequent travels by both leaders as irresponsibility and a lack of commitment to the Nigerian people.
“These travels show a lack of seriousness. The President and his vice are supposed to be serving the people of Nigeria, but they seem to be prioritising their personal needs over national governance,” Osadolor stated. “In an ideal situation, ambassadors or foreign ministers should handle many of these events. It’s unnecessary for the president to attend every event abroad.”
Osadolor also raised concerns about the President’s transparency regarding his health, suggesting that his frequent travels to France for check-ups were contributing to the perception of neglect among Nigerians.
“I believe the President should be more transparent with the people. He should realise he was elected to manage the economy and represent the citizens, not to live a lavish lifestyle abroad,” he added.
The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, criticised the President and Vice President for leaving the country “on autopilot” while Nigerians continue to face numerous challenges.
“The constant overseas travels, especially during times of economic hardship, give a poor impression of leadership. It feels like we’re on our own. The country seems to be running without any direction,” Johnson stated. “The optics are terrible, and the people feel abandoned by those in power.”
He urged President Tinubu to reconsider his approach, suggesting that he should focus more on serving the Nigerian people rather than prioritizing foreign engagements.
“My advice to the President is simple: he should realise he has little to show for the last two years. It’s time to press the reset button and start truly serving the people, as promised,” Johnson stated.
CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ahmeh, said President Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips have created a leadership vacuum, negatively impacting various sectors in Nigeria.
Ahmeh said Nigeria cannot achieve its national goals with such a high frequency of foreign travels.
“This is a total disregard for administrative or constitutional procedures. When one is not in town, the other should take over. But when both are away, there’s no one to manage the country’s affairs, creating gaps in the economy, security, and other sectors,” Ahmeh explained.
“With their traveling habits, there’s no way we can achieve the results we desire. The country needs a president who is focused on governing, not one who takes advantage of the system.”
He further criticised the President for his frequent trips abroad, questioning whether France had become Nigeria’s “second home.”
“It’s saddening. Many Nigerians feel the same. There is no leadership or direction, just instability and no growth or economic prosperity,” he added.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said while in France, Tinubu would do a stock taking of his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.
Tinubu will “review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary.”
“This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year,” Onanuga said, adding the President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities.
“He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight,” it concluded.
