Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned who is constitutionally leading Nigeria following the expiration of President Bola Tinubu’s 21-day vacation.
President Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a three-week annual vacation in France, while Vice President Kashim Shettima is in the United States leading Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a statement on his official social media handles on Monday, September 21, Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the nation cannot be governed from Europe and urged the Presidency and National Assembly to respect constitutional succession procedures.
Citing Section 145 of the Constitution, Atiku said whenever the President proceeds on vacation, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, whereupon the Vice President performs the functions of President as Acting President.
He noted that where the President fails to transmit the declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly shall, by simple majority of each House, mandate the Vice President to act.
“The 21 days have now elapsed. If such a letter exists, the Presidency should publish it immediately. If it does not, then the constitutional mechanism contemplated by Section 145(2) has been triggered, and the National Assembly owes Nigerians an explanation as to why it has not acted,” Atiku said.
He described the situation as disturbing, especially as Shettima is in New York representing Nigeria at UNGA for the third consecutive time on Tinubu’s behalf.
“So again: who is exercising presidential authority in Nigeria today, and under what constitutional instrument?” he asked.
Atiku said Nigeria cannot be governed by assumptions, social media posts from Europe, or photographs from private dinners at the Élysée Palace.
He noted that while President Tinubu has been abroad, 37 Nigerians died in NSCDC custody in Minna, triggering investigations and suspensions, while petrol sells for as much as N1,500 per litre in parts of the country.
“These are not ordinary times. Yet the President is abroad. The Vice President is abroad. The Senate President is abroad. And Nigerians have not been told, in the clear constitutional language required of a serious democracy, who is exercising the powers of the President,” he said.
He said Tinubu’s private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron may serve diplomatic purposes, but Nigeria itself cannot be placed on vacation, and asked the Presidency to disclose whether the declaration under Section 145(1) was transmitted and whether Senate President and Speaker are aware of it.
“Nigeria is bigger than any President. At a time of severe economic hardship, rising energy costs, security challenges and the shocking deaths of citizens in government custody, the country deserves visible, accountable and constitutionally grounded leadership,” Atiku said.
