Nigeria’s Presidency has clarified that despite President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima being abroad, the country’s leadership remains steady with no vacuum.
Cyber Reporters reports that Tinubu left the country on October 3 and is on a two-week working vacation while the vice president departed the country Wednesday for Sweden on an official visit, working for Nigeria.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President and Vice President are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away.
Onanuga in a statement stated that in their absence, key figures including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, ministers, and service chiefs are entrusted with ensuring the smooth operation of the government.
Onanuga noted that this is not the first time Nigeria has faced such a situation; in 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were simultaneously out of the country, attending UNGA 77 and Queen Elizabeth II’s burial, respectively.
He said the Constitution does not require the physical presence of the President or Vice President to fulfill their duties, thanks to the adaptability of the virtual age.
The statement reads:
“It is important to note that the President and Vice President are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away. There is no leadership vacuum in the country.”
“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.
“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 II.
“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.
“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.”
