The sudden absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from Aso Rock has sparked concerns among citizens, raising questions about the governance vacuum and adherence to constitutional protocols. Reports indicate that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s scheduled trip abroad was canceled last minute, presumably to avoid leaving the seat of power vacant.
President Tinubu’s whereabouts have been a subject of speculation since his official visit to Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum meeting. Despite the conclusion of the summit on April 29, Tinubu has not returned to Nigeria. Prior to the WEF meeting, he visited the Netherlands upon Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s invitation, engaging in crucial discussions with Dutch leaders.
Amidst these developments, Vice President Shettima’s intended trip to represent the President at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit was abruptly canceled due to aircraft issues. The simultaneous absence of both the President and Vice President has fueled concerns about the continuity of governance and adherence to constitutional provisions.
Notable figures, including rights activist Deji Adeyanju, have criticized the lack of accountability and transparency regarding the President’s whereabouts. Adeyanju lambasted the administration for what he termed as irresponsibility, highlighting the need for clarity and adherence to democratic norms.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the diminished role of the National Assembly in providing checks and balances within the government. Adeyanju lamented the perceived relegation of the legislature to a mere department within the presidency, emphasizing the erosion of democratic principles.
“Even if you ask the Presidency, they don’t know where the president is, and I have come to the conclusion that the president of Nigeria is missing. Whether or not anybody likes it, this government is irresponsible and does not believe in accountability.
“Can you imagine the president of America disappearing for one week or the British Prime Minister, or the Prime Minister of Canada or the French President? Things like this can only happen in a Banana Republic.
“Even George Orwell’s Animal Farm will do better because when the king of the jungle goes missing, all kinds of things start happening. It’s safe to say that the country is without a captain; unfortunately, there is nobody to pinpoint in this government that is capable of administering.
“The last we heard about the missing president is that his jet malfunctioned, and since then, he has not been seen or sighted by anyone. Even if the president is undergoing medical tourism, Nigerians deserve to know,” Adeyanju said during a chat with the Daily Post.
He added: “The president of a country can’t just disappear into thin air without any explanation. President Tinubu is taking Nigerians for granted, even if he does not rate Nigerians, he should rate the millions of people that voted for him. There can be no justification whatsoever for this kind of rude behaviour.”
Legal experts such as Madubuachi Idam have pointed out the potential constitutional anomalies arising from the simultaneous absence of the President and Vice President. Idam underscored the constitutional requirement for the President to transmit power to the Vice President in his absence, emphasizing the need for adherence to established protocols.
“The president and his vice run on the same ticket, and that’s why the doctrine of necessity enables the vice president to step into the shoes of the president and carry out his duties. Now the constitution does not speculate a situation where the president and his vice are absent from office.
“The constitution did not provide for such an anomaly, it’s a clear abdication of duties by those elected officers. What happens is that the government has become headless.
“The constitution did not speculate a situation where the president and vice will not be present at a time; what the constitution provides is that when the president is not available to discharge the duties of his office, he transmits power to the vice president who will step in his shoes to carry out the functions of his office pending when normalcy will return or in the case of ill-health when he will be healthy,” Idam noted.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar echoed these concerns, stating that the country appears to be on autopilot in the absence of its leaders. Atiku questioned the lack of clarity regarding who is in charge of the government amidst the absence of the President and Vice President.
Idam emphasized that the absence of both leaders simultaneously could warrant impeachment proceedings, citing it as a gross misconduct and violation of constitutional duties.
The situation underscores broader concerns about governance and accountability in Nigeria, highlighting the need for transparency and adherence to constitutional provisions to ensure the continuity of democratic processes. As citizens await clarity on the President’s whereabouts and the resolution of constitutional implications, the spotlight remains on the need for responsible governance and adherence to democratic norms.
