The Presidency has stated that President Bola Tinubu can work from anywhere in the world, adding that he does not need to be in Nigeria physically to perform State functions.
The Presidency stated this following concerns regarding the absence of both the President and his Vice, Kashim Shettima from Nigeria.
Recall that Tinubu has been away after proceeding on two weeks annual leave in the United Kingdom from where he jived into France.
Vice President Shettima is also not in the country after he embarked on a two-days visit to Sweden to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the Scandinavian nation.
This literally created a leadership vacuum, and has since become a subject of concern to the Nigerian public.
But in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday night, the Presidency maintained that there was not leadership vacuum.
He stressed that both leaders remained actively engaged in the country’s governance, despite their travel commitments.
He said President Tinubu has been fully involved in state affairs despite not being in the country physically.
“He continues to issue directives and take important calls while abroad, and will return shortly before the vacation concludes,”
He said Vice President Shettima is also on official duty, having left the country on Wednesday for Sweden where he is representing Nigeria on a state affairs.
Onanuga emphasised that all government bodies remain fully functional, with senior officials, including the Senate President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, and service chiefs, maintaining their roles and ensuring smooth operatio
He referenced the current and previous administrations where both the president and vice president were simultaneously abroad, but governmental functions remained unaffected.
He said, “we had a similar situation in 2022 when former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were found to be simultaneously out of the country. President Buhari attended UNGA 77, while Osinbajo participated in the burial of Queen Elizabeth ll.
“We have also experienced it during this administration. Between late April and early May this year, while President Tinubu was in London, after visiting the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, where he attended the World Economic Forum.
“Vice President Shettima left Nigeria, first of all for Nairobi to attend the International Development Association (IDA21) Heads of State Summit. After returning, he left for Dallas, Texas, to attend the US-Africa Business Summit organised by the Corporate Council on Africa. President Tinubu returned home on 8 May. During this time, the government’s machinery did not halt.”
He reassured the public that the country remains in capable hands, even with its top leaders temporarily out of the country.
