Vacation: Tinubu Has Shown Nigerians That He Prefers Leaving Nigeria On ‘Auto Pilot’ — ADC Chieftain

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ladan Salihu, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s four-week stay in Europe, arguing that the prolonged absence raised concerns about presidential communication and the handling of national challenges. Salihu, a former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, made the remarks on Wednesday, September 30, during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, one day after Tinubu returned to Nigeria from France.

“President Bola Tinubu has clearly shown Nigerians that he prefers leading Nigeria on autopilot or leaving Nigeria on autopilot and staying more abroad to discuss with President Macron and being in London to what he called a working vacation. This is a classical contempt of leadership on the led. Through his absence from August 30 to yesterday, September 29, we have not had a word, not even a video feed from the President,” Salihu said.

He argued that Tinubu should have addressed Nigerians directly, particularly after reports of deaths and insecurity emerged in different parts of the country. Among the incidents he referenced was the reported death of 37 miners in Niger State while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He also cited reported killings and kidnappings in Zamfara State. The ADC chieftain said the President could have used video messages or other direct communication channels to address Nigerians during the period.

“A president that has the interest of Nigerians at heart, the welfare and well-being and the security of the citizens as the core aspect of his leadership will easily have called off his trip, come back to Nigeria, address the myriad of political, economic and insecurity issues,” he said.

According to him, Tinubu’s prolonged stay abroad also raised questions about the President’s communication with Nigerians. “When he travels abroad, and he stays this long, it shows contempt towards the citizens, contempt towards the very office of leadership in the land and he is showing his lack of capacity and capability to run,” Salihu said.

Tinubu’s trip lasted from August 30 until September 29, making the absence longer than the three-week vacation initially announced by the Presidency. During his time in London and Paris, Tinubu met with French President Emmanuel Macron, held discussions with business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, and met with First HoldCo Chairman Femi Otedola.