African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to embark on a three-week vacation in Europe, describing his absence as troubling amid the challenges facing Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Atiku argued that the President’s trip came at a time when the country was grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and growing pressure on households.
He maintained that while Tinubu’s absence did not create a constitutional crisis, the circumstances surrounding the President’s departure raised concerns about the direction of political leadership in the country.
“Nigeria is burning. Nigeria may not be facing a constitutional vacuum today, but there is a disturbing vacuum of political leadership,” Atiku said.
The ADC presidential candidate also acknowledged his own history of travelling and spending time outside Nigeria, but drew a distinction between private travel and the responsibilities attached to occupying the country’s highest political office.
“I have travelled, lived and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.
Atiku pointed to the rising cost of living, difficulty accessing food, expensive transportation and persistent insecurity as issues requiring urgent attention from the Federal Government.
He argued that the severity of these challenges made the President’s physical presence in Nigeria particularly important.
“Consider what Bola Tinubu is leaving behind. Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own village into a luxury. Insecurity that buries Nigerians week after week,” he said.
