Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is hale and hearty and continues to discharge his responsibilities despite being away from Abuja on his annual working vacation.
In today’s digital age, physical presence in Abuja is not a prerequisite for effective governance. The President can, and has continued to, conduct official engagements and advance important national interests while outside the country.
During his working vacation, President Tinubu has maintained a busy schedule, including engagements with investors in France. His activities have also included efforts connected to major investment projects in Nigeria, including the proposed $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.
President Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) should also be viewed in context. Other African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, were also absent from this year’s gathering. Ramaphosa had reportedly stepped back from public engagements, while Egypt was represented without President el-Sisi personally attending.
In Nigeria, President Tinubu had publicly announced that he would proceed on his annual vacation and delegated representation at the UNGA to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Against this backdrop, questions raised by former Anambra State governor and Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi about the President’s whereabouts have generated discussion, particularly on social media.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week ahead of the country’s 66th Independence anniversary celebrations. He is also expected to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, widely associated with Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle, by attending the premiere in Lagos of a movie commemorating his life and legacy.
