“Where Is Nigeria’s President?” – Obi Calls Out Tinubu

Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned the absence of President Bola Tinubu from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Obi raised the question in a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday.

In the said statement, Obi praised Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama for his participation at the global gathering.

Mahama attended the 81st UN General Assembly in New York and addressed world leaders on issues affecting Ghana, Africa and the international community. Among other issues, he called for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, arguing that the continent should have a place in the body with the rights, responsibilities and veto powers attached to such membership.

Reacting to Mahama’s appearance at the UN, Obi described the Ghanaian president’s address as a demonstration of what leadership could achieve when competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character were brought together in the service of a country.

He then contrasted Mahama’s participation with Tinubu’s absence from the global meeting and questioned why the Nigerian President was not at the UN General Assembly.

“The dynamic President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, delivered a remarkable address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The international community has commended his leadership and the substance of his address,” Obi wrote.

“It is a reminder of what leadership can produce when competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character come together in the service of a nation.”

Obi subsequently asked, “Where is the President of Africa’s most populous nation, a country of more than 200 million people – more than Ghana – whose leader has been absent from the global stage for three consecutive UNGAs?”

He argued that the Nigerian President should have been representing the country and providing leadership at an international gathering where major global and African issues were being discussed.

“Nigeria’s President, who ought to be representing the country and providing leadership for Africa at the international level, has not attended any of these three global gatherings,” Obi said.

“Where is he, particularly at a time when the country faces significant challenges, both domestically and internationally?”

Tinubu’s absence from this year’s UN General Assembly is linked to his extended working vacation in Europe. The President left Nigeria on August 30 for London, with the Presidency initially announcing that he would spend three weeks on annual leave before returning home.

After about a week in London, Tinubu travelled to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. The Presidency later announced on September 21 that he had extended his working vacation by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima was subsequently assigned to represent Tinubu at the 81st UN General Assembly. Shettima travelled to New York on September 20 and delivered Nigeria’s national statement at the gathering.

The President’s return, however, has now been further delayed. Sources familiar with his itinerary said that a last-minute change had been made to his travel plans. Tinubu had earlier been expected to return on Sunday and arrive in Lagos, where he was expected to remain for up to a week before travelling to Abuja.

The President is now expected to return to Lagos on Tuesday, September 29, after the four-week working vacation in Europe. The report said he is expected to remain in Lagos for official duties before returning to Abuja.

Obi acknowledged that Shettima had been present at the United Nations but said the Vice-President’s attendance did not answer his question about Tinubu.

“Although our Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was present, the question remains: Where is the President?” he said.

The former Anambra governor also called on Nigerians to pray for Tinubu’s return and for the President to resume his leadership responsibilities in addressing the challenges confronting the country.

The President’s prolonged absence has also generated a political and constitutional debate. Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for a written declaration by the President to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or when unable to discharge the functions of his office. It provides that the Vice-President then performs the functions of President in an acting capacity.

The provision also addresses situations in which the President fails to transmit such a declaration within 21 days, providing for the National Assembly to mandate the Vice-President to perform the functions of President as acting President through resolutions of both chambers.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has also questioned the constitutional arrangements surrounding Tinubu’s absence, asking who is exercising presidential authority after the expiration of the initial three-week leave.

The Presidency, however, has maintained that Tinubu has remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad. It said the President had issued directives on matters at home during his absence.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has similarly rejected suggestions that Tinubu is no longer in charge of the country.

“I am not the acting president, because the president is still in power. The president is on a working leave. So, there’s no absence in Aso Rock,” Akpabio said.

He also said Tinubu could continue to perform his duties while outside Nigeria, arguing that modern technology made it possible for the President to issue directives from abroad.

“What he cannot do here, he is doing abroad. The world has become a global village; you can give instructions from the internet about anything, so why are people complaining?” Akpabio said.

He added, “There’s no vacancy; people who are talking are just talking,” insisting that “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still in power and is still running the affairs of Nigeria.”

Obi ended his message by restating his belief that Nigeria could achieve political and national renewal.

“A new Nigeria is POssible,” he wrote.