President Bola Tinubu’s extended stay in Europe has continued to attract criticism, with African Democratic Congress chieftain Ladan Salihu accusing the President of leaving Nigeria on “autopilot” during his absence.
Salihu, a former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, made the remarks on Wednesday while appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a working vacation, travelling first to London before proceeding to Paris. He returned to Nigeria on September 29 after spending about four weeks abroad. His prolonged stay also drew attention after he did not attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria.
According to Salihu, Tinubu’s absence from August 30 to September 29 demonstrated what he described as a lack of direct leadership and communication with Nigerians.
“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,” Salihu said.
He described the prolonged absence as “a classical contempt of leadership on the led,” arguing that Nigerians did not hear directly from the President during the period.
“Through his absence from August 30 to yesterday, September 29, we have not had a word, not even a video feed from the President,” he said.
Salihu raises concerns over insecurity
The ADC chieftain also pointed to security challenges recorded during Tinubu’s time abroad.
“During the President’s absence, Nigeria has undergone a lot of trauma, trauma of insecurity, killings of people,” he said.
He cited the reported deaths of 37 miners in Niger State as well as reported killings and kidnappings in Zamfara State as examples of the security challenges facing the country.
Salihu argued that the situation should have prompted the President to return home and directly address the issues.
“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.
He also questioned the level of communication between the President and Nigerians while he was abroad.
According to Salihu, a prolonged absence from the country without regular direct communication could raise concerns among citizens about presidential leadership.
“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,” he said.
‘We want to hear from Tinubu’
Salihu further criticised the President for not personally addressing Nigerians over the reported deaths and insecurity during his stay abroad.
He argued that Tinubu could have used video messages to sympathise with affected Nigerians even while carrying out official engagements outside the country.
“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,” Salihu said.
He also criticised the role of presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga in responding to some of the issues during the President’s absence.
“We only saw people in the Villa, Bayo Onanuga, replying to Nigerians,” he said.
“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,” Salihu added.
The Presidency had described Tinubu’s European trip as a working vacation and said he remained in contact with officials at home and continued directing government affairs while away. Tinubu also held meetings and engagements in France, including a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and meetings with business leaders. (Channels Television)
Source: Channels Television.
