Tinubu, Shettima Abroad: No Leadership Vacuum, Says Presidency

No Governance Gap Despite Tinubu, Shettima's Absence

“We had a similar situation in 2022 when former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo...”

President Tinubu's annual vacation and VP Shettima's Sweden trip spark concerns, but Presidency assures no leadership vacuum, maintaining governance continuity.

The Presidency has reassured Nigerians that despite President Bola Tinubu's annual vacation and Vice President Kashim Shettima's official visit to Sweden, the country will not experience a leadership vacuum. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, both leaders remain fully engaged with national affairs, even while away.

This isn't the first time Vice President Shettima has represented President Tinubu internationally. Previously, he attended the US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, and the International Development Association (IDA21) Heads of State Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Presidency maintains that the machinery of governance continues to function smoothly, with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President, and Ministers carrying out their duties as usual. This reassurance aims to alleviate concerns about potential disruptions in governance due to the leaders' absence.

Highlights 

Presidential Engagement: President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima remain engaged with national affairs despite their absence.

Vice President's International Representation: Shettima has represented President Tinubu at international events, including the US-Africa Business Summit and IDA21 Heads of State Summit.

Governance Continuity: The Presidency assures that governance continues uninterrupted, with key officials performing their duties as usual.

“There is no leadership vacuum in the country," Onanuga said in a statement on Wednesday.

The full statement, issued on Wednesday night and signed by Onanuga, is reproduced below...

THERE IS NO VACUUM IN LEADERSHIP AS THE PRESIDENT AND VP ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY

Following enquiries by journalists as to who is in charge of our country as the President and Vice President are out of the country, we want to clarify:

1. It is important to note that the President and Vice President are fully. engaged with the nation's affairs, even while they are away. There is no leadership vacuum in the country.

2. President Tinubu left the country on 3 October and is on a two-week working vacation. During this time, he has been busy answering phones and issuing directives on matters of state. He will soon return to the country before the vacation officially expires.

3. The vice president departed the country Wednesday for Sweden on an official visit, working for Nigeria.

4. All state organs are functioning as usual. The Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, and Service Chiefs are all in their respective positions, ensuring the smooth operation of the government.

5. 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 II.

6. 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.

7. The Constitution, a testament to our adaptability in the virtual age, does not explicitly require the physical presence of either the president or the vice president in the country at all times to fulfil his duties.