A media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has asked the Presidency to explain why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has remained outside Nigeria beyond the period initially announced for his annual vacation, raising questions about compliance with constitutional provisions on presidential absence.
In a post shared on X on Sunday, Ibe said President Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a three-week annual vacation, but had yet to return despite the expiration of the initial timeline.
He wrote: “The obvious question is: what exactly is keeping the President of Nigeria in Paris?”
Ibe noted that French President Emmanuel Macron had already returned from his international engagements, while President Tinubu was still in France despite the security, economic and cost-of-living challenges facing Nigeria.
According to him, the issue goes beyond the President’s travel and raises constitutional concerns.
He stated: “Section 145(1) of the Constitution requires a President proceeding on vacation beyond 21 days to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, enabling the Vice-President to perform presidential functions as Acting President.”
He further quoted Section 145(2) of the Constitution, saying: “If the President fails to transmit that declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly shall, by a simple majority of each House, mandate the Vice-President to perform the functions of President.”
Ibe argued that President Tinubu had now spent 28 days outside the country.
He asked: “So where is the letter? If it was transmitted, let the Presidency, Senate President or Speaker publish it.”
He added: “If no letter was transmitted, Nigerians deserve to know why the constitutional procedure has not been followed. We do not want to believe insinuations that the inner circle of Tinubu are scared of Shettima being handed the Acting President authority.”
The former vice president’s aide recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari formally transferred presidential powers to then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on several occasions through written communications to the National Assembly.
He also referred to reports suggesting President Tinubu could be in France for medical reasons.
According to Ibe: “There is also speculation that President Tinubu is in France for medical reasons. That is precisely why the Presidency should provide a clear explanation.”
He maintained that Nigerians deserve to know why the President has remained abroad beyond the announced vacation and whether constitutional procedures have been followed.
He concluded: “The Constitution is not optional. And Nigeria cannot be placed on indefinite vacation while Tinubu plays absentee President.”
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