Presidency Defends Bola Tinubu's Absence Amid High Praise
The Nigerian presidency defended President Bola Tinubu's prolonged absence from Abuja as a working vacation while allies hailed him as the nation's greatest leader.
The presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed concerns over the president's prolonged absence from Nigeria, stating he is hale and hearty and expected to return this week. Tinubu left the country on August 30 for annual leave in London, which officials later characterized as a working vacation. During this period, he traveled to Paris to meet with President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, facilitating agreements between the Ogun State Government and DP World for a deep-sea port and special economic zone expected to attract over $7 billion in investment.
Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga defended the remote governance, arguing that the digital age removes the need for the president to be physically present in Abuja. This defense follows criticism from opposition figures, including Peter Obi, who questioned the president's whereabouts and noted his failure to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York for the third consecutive year. The presidency maintained that Vice President Kashim Shettima provided adequate representation at the assembly.
Simultaneously, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, praised Tinubu as Nigeria's greatest president to date. Audu compared him to Nelson Mandela and Jerry Rawlings, asserting that his macroeconomic reforms, such as fuel-subsidy removal and foreign-exchange changes, demonstrate a level of genius that outweighs controversies regarding his academic credentials. She noted that the International Monetary Fund acknowledged the structural significance of these reforms despite warnings about rising poverty.
