The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has asked the Presidency to explain the continued absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from Nigeria, saying Nigerians deserve to know his whereabouts and who is exercising presidential authority while he remains outside the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition campaign council expressed concern that the President had not returned to the country six days after the expiration of his previously announced three-week vacation.
The council said: “The Presidency owes Nigerians a clear and transparent explanation. The continued absence of the President, without sufficient public information on his whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding the extension of his stay abroad, has inevitably generated questions and public concern.”
According to the ADC PCC, the office of the President is a public trust and citizens have the right to know where their elected leader is and who is overseeing the affairs of government.
It added: “The office of the President is a public trust. Nigerians who elected President Tinubu are entitled to know where their President is and, more importantly, who is exercising presidential authority while he remains outside the country.”
The council argued that the issue has become more important because Nigeria is facing economic difficulties, rising hardship and security challenges.
It stated: “The country cannot afford uncertainty at the highest level of government.”
The opposition campaign council called on the Presidency to provide what it described as clear and verifiable information on the President’s current location, the reason for the extension of his stay abroad and the constitutional arrangements guiding the administration of the country.
It also urged the Presidency to explain the legal basis for the President remaining outside the country beyond the period earlier communicated to Nigerians.
According to the statement, “Nigerians deserve openness, not secrecy. Presidential movements and the exercise of executive authority cannot be treated as matters of private convenience when they directly concern the governance of a nation of more than 200 million people.”
The ADC PCC further expressed concern over reports that the President’s vacation had been extended and that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, had continued to represent him at official engagements.
While acknowledging that the Presidency may have administrative reasons for the arrangement, the council insisted that Nigerians still deserve answers on who is constitutionally in charge while the President remains outside the country.
It said: “The ADC joins concerned Nigerians in demanding transparency, accountability and respect for the constitutional responsibilities attached to the office of President.”
The council added that President Tinubu was elected to lead the country and that citizens have a legitimate expectation to be kept informed on matters affecting the exercise of presidential authority.
It concluded by urging the Presidency to immediately provide what it described as a comprehensive and unambiguous explanation, warning that continued silence could increase public anxiety and speculation.
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