The presidency has assuaged the fear expressed in certain quarters over the leadership vacuum created by the absence of both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from the country.
While President Tinubu is on a two week vacation since October 3 and had traveled out of the country, Vice President Shettima too, left Nigeria for Sweden today , October 16, on an official visit.
Reacting to what he called “enquiries by journalists as to who is in charge of our country as the President and Vice President are out of the country,” the Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said that despite that the two leaders are not in the country, they “are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs.
“There is no leadership vacuum in the country.”
According to Onanuga, the nation’s Constitution does not explicitly require the physical presence of either the president or the vice president in the country at all times to fulfil their duties.
He said that since President Tinubu left the country on 3 October, 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.”
He stressed that all state organs are functioning as usual, adding that 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.
“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.”
Onanuga recalled that during such time, the government’s machinery did not halt.
