President Bola Tinubu's recent three-week "working vacation" to London has raised questions about his commitment to upholding the Nigerian constitution. During his absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima was attending an African Union summit in Angola, leaving both of Nigeria's top officials outside the country simultaneously. Notably, no letter was sent to the National Assembly informing them of the president's plans, sparking concerns about the country's leadership and adherence to the constitution.
Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution states that when the president is unable to discharge their duties, they must transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker, allowing the vice president to act as president in their stead. However, Tinubu has not used this mechanism since taking office in May 2023. This has led to criticism that the president is not following the rules and is instead treating the presidency as a personal property rather than a public trust.
Tinubu's past behavior has also raised concerns about his willingness to share power and adhere to the rules. During his time as governor of Lagos, his first deputy governor, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, resigned in 2002 after concluding that he had no intention of sharing authority with her. Bucknor-Akerele has since spoken about Tinubu's reluctance to share power and his desire to control the party machinery.
The president's spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced the vacation without clarifying who would be in charge of the country in the president's absence. This has led to questions about whether this is an oversight or a deliberate attempt to circumvent the constitution. The situation has also raised concerns about the wider implications of Tinubu's behavior, including his approach to appointments and contracts.
The issue has sparked a wider debate about the president's attitude towards the constitution and the rule of law. Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, has described the situation as a "disturbing vacuum of political leadership." The opposition has criticized Tinubu for not following the rules and for treating the presidency as a personal property.
The situation has also raised questions about Vice President Shettima's role and his willingness to challenge the president's actions. Shettima has remained silent on the issue, which has led to concerns about his ability to assert himself and uphold the constitution. The experience of Bucknor-Akerele, who resigned after challenging Tinubu's authority, has been cited as an example of the consequences of crossing the president.
The issue has significant implications for Nigeria's democracy and the rule of law. The country's Fourth Republic was designed to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one individual, and the current situation has raised concerns about the drift towards authoritarianism. Nigerians have been urged to demand that the National Assembly takes action to ensure that the president adheres to the constitution and upholds the rule of law.
Key points
- The president's actions have raised concerns about his commitment to upholding the Nigerian constitution and the rule of law.
- The situation has sparked a wider debate about the president's attitude towards the constitution and the rule of law.
- The issue has significant implications for Nigeria's democracy and the rule of law.
