Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has questioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's prolonged stay in France. Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a three-week annual vacation, but his return was extended. Ibe expressed concerns about the President's prolonged absence, citing Nigeria's ongoing security, economic, and cost-of-living challenges.
Ibe raised a constitutional question, citing Section 145(1) of the Constitution, which requires a President on vacation to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. This enables the Vice-President to perform the functions of President as Acting President. Ibe cited Section 145(2), which allows the National Assembly to mandate the Vice-President to perform presidential functions if the President fails to transmit the declaration.
According to Ibe, Tinubu has been away for 28 days, exceeding the 21-day period. He demanded to know if a letter was transmitted to the National Assembly and urged the Presidency to publish it if it was. Ibe said Nigerians deserve to know why the constitutional procedure has not been followed. He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari transferred presidential functions to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on several occasions.
Ibe also referred to speculation that Tinubu was in France for medical reasons, saying the Presidency should provide a clear explanation for the President's prolonged stay. He emphasized that Nigerians are entitled to know why their President has remained abroad and whether the Constitution has been complied with.
Ibe expressed concern that there should not be insinuations that members of Tinubu's inner circle were afraid of Vice-President Kashim Shettima being given Acting President authority. He noted that the Constitution is not optional and that Nigeria cannot be placed on indefinite vacation.
The Presidency had announced that Tinubu's working vacation was extended by a few days and that he would return to Nigeria at the weekend. However, Ibe questioned what was keeping the President in Paris, noting that French President Emmanuel Macron had attended to his country's international engagements and returned home.
Ibe's comments come as Nigerians continue to face various challenges, including security, economic, and cost-of-living issues. The situation has sparked concerns about the President's prolonged absence and the need for clarity on the transmission of the letter to the National Assembly.
Key points
- Atiku's aide questions Tinubu's prolonged stay in France beyond his initially announced three-week vacation.
- Ibe demands transmission of letter to NASS to enable Vice-President to perform presidential functions.
- Presidency should provide clear explanation for President's prolonged stay in France.
