Tinubu doesn’t have to be in Nigeria to work, says presidency. Return expected this week

The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu is working from abroad while on a three-week vacation and does not need to be physically present in Nigeria to perform his official duties. According to Peoples Gazette, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga made the remark in a statement on Sunday, amid questions about Tinubu’s whereabouts and delayed return since he left for vacation on August 30.

“Nigeria’s President is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to. In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023,” Onanuga said.

He added, “And we have seen that he has indeed been working, meeting investors in France, most recently facilitating a $7 billion deep-sea port in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.”

Reacting to criticism over Tinubu’s absence from the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, Onanuga said, “Two other important African leaders were not in New York for the UNGA: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi… Johannesburg and Pretoria made no uproar over Ramaphosa’s absence at UNGA. And Egypt did not erupt that Sisi did not go to New York.”

He added, “Yet Peter Obi pretends to be unaware of President Tinubu’s whereabouts… President Tinubu will return home this week to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and honour MKO Abiola… by attending the premiere of a movie in MKO’s memory in Lagos.”