Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Presidency to clarify whether President Bola Tinubu formally notified the National Assembly before leaving Nigeria on his recent overseas vacation.
Okonkwo raised the issue during a television interview, questioning the Presidency’s description of Tinubu’s trip as a “working vacation” and arguing that the public should know how presidential responsibilities were being handled during his absence.
He referred to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to perform the functions of his office.
“The Constitution is very clear. Section 145. Whenever the President is proceeding on vacation, or otherwise is unable to discharge the functions of his office, he transmits a written declaration to the National Assembly,” Okonkwo said.
He then questioned whether such a communication had been received by the legislature, asking: “Did you see any letter?”
Section 145 also provides a procedure under which the Vice-President can perform the functions of the President as Acting President following the required declaration. A further provision deals with circumstances in which the President fails or is unable to transmit the declaration within 21 days.
Okonkwo argued that the reference to 21 days should not be interpreted as meaning that the President can simply proceed on vacation without first addressing the requirement contained in the constitutional provision.
“You don’t see 21 days; you don’t see 30 days,” he said.
He also rejected the description of Tinubu’s trip as a “working vacation,” arguing that the constitutional provision refers specifically to a President proceeding on vacation.
“Vacation is vacation,” Okonkwo said. “That’s not what the Constitution is talking about.”
The Presidency has previously said Tinubu’s overseas stay was a working vacation during which he continued to direct government affairs and hold official engagements. It also announced that the President had extended his stay by a few days before his expected return to Nigeria. (State House Abuja)
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, where he held meetings with officials and business figures. Vice-President Kashim Shettima also travelled to New York to represent Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly during the President’s absence. (State House Abuja)
Okonkwo said Nigerians should be provided with clear information about the arrangements for exercising presidential responsibilities during the President’s absence.
Asked about reports that Tinubu had returned, he said he had only seen a convoy and wanted confirmation of the President’s return.
“What I saw was a convoy. I didn’t say the convoy of the President should be back. What we want to see is our President,” he said.
His comments have added to the ongoing public debate over the constitutional procedure governing presidential absence and the role of the Vice-President during such periods.
