The ADC presidential candidate said the President’s absence amid widespread hardship has created a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to embark on a three-week vacation in Europe, describing the timing as deeply troubling given the country’s economic and security challenges .
In a statement on Sunday, Atiku acknowledged that Nigeria was not facing a constitutional vacuum. However, he argued that Tinubu’s absence reflected a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership” .
Atiku drew a sharp contrast between his own international travels and the responsibilities of a sitting president, stating: “I have travelled, lived and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” .
He listed the challenges confronting Nigerians, noting: “Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own village into a luxury. Insecurity that buries Nigerians week after week” .
Using a powerful analogy, Atiku argued that a leader should remain with his people during a crisis. “A father may travel when all is well. But when his roof is burning and his family is trapped inside, he does not pick up his suitcase and head for the airport,” he said .
Atiku also noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima was outside the country on official duty, making Tinubu’s decision even more difficult to understand .
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