President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s continued stay abroad, insisting that he remains in charge of the country despite his extended working vacation.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State while commissioning road projects executed by Governor Umo Eno.
His comments came amid renewed concerns over the absence of both Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from the country and questions over whether the President should formally hand over power to Shettima.
Akpabio maintained that Tinubu remained in control of the administration and that his physical absence from Nigeria did not create a leadership vacuum.
“I am the Senate President, and I am not the acting president of Nigeria, because President Tinubu is still in power. He is on a working leave, and there is no absence in Aso Rock,” Akpabio said.
He added, “The world is a global village, and one can give instructions over the internet. So, why are people complaining?”
Akpabio further argued that the circumstances requiring him to assume a constitutional role in the presidential succession framework did not exist.
“Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Tinubu is still in power, and he is still running the affairs of Nigeria,” he said.
The Presidency had announced that Tinubu’s three-week working vacation, which began on August 30, had been extended by a few days, with the President expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
The Presidency said Tinubu had continued to direct government affairs from Europe, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré while in Paris.
It also said the President had remained in contact with government officials in Nigeria and issued directives while abroad, including ordering an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna.
While Tinubu has been away, Shettima has represented him at some official engagements. The Vice President, however, left Abuja on September 20 for New York to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, was subsequently expected to represent the President at official functions.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin his three-week annual leave before proceeding to Paris. The Presidency initially announced that he would return after the vacation but later disclosed on September 21 that his stay had been extended by a few days.
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