President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week ahead of activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary, the Presidency has said.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what was initially announced as a three-week working vacation, travelling first to London before moving to Paris, France.
His prolonged absence has, however, triggered criticism from opposition figures and some Nigerians, with human rights lawyer Festus Ogun threatening legal action.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday said Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and continued to perform his duties while abroad.
“President Tinubu is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to,” Onanuga said in a post on X.
He added that modern technology allowed the President to work without being physically present in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu had also held meetings with investors in France during the trip.
He cited agreements signed in Paris on September 24 between the Ogun State Government and DP World concerning the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
The Presidency had announced on September 21 that Tinubu extended his vacation by a few days and would return at the weekend.
His continued absence, however, has raised questions, particularly over his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the UNGA.
Onanuga defended the decision, saying Tinubu had announced his annual vacation and delegated the Vice President to represent him.
He also noted that other African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, were absent from the UNGA.
Onanuga criticised former Anambra State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi for questioning Tinubu’s whereabouts.
He said the President would return to Nigeria to participate in Independence Anniversary activities, including the Lagos premiere of a movie commemorating the late MKO Abiola.
The controversy has also centred on Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which deals with a President’s temporary absence from office.
The provision states that a President proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to perform his functions should transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
It further provides for the Vice President to discharge presidential functions as Acting President until another written declaration is transmitted confirming the President’s resumption of duties.
Ogun said he would approach the Federal High Court in Lagos over what he described as a constitutional breach.
“First thing tomorrow morning, we will file a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos to challenge this constitutional breach,” he said.
The Presidency, however, maintains that Tinubu has remained in charge of government throughout his stay abroad.
It said the President has remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued directing government affairs remotely.
The development has continued to generate debate among Nigerians, with some questioning the length of the President’s absence and others focusing on the constitutional procedure governing presidential vacations.
The Presidency has now reiterated that Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria before October 1 for the Independence Anniversary celebrations.
