Nigeria’s Presidency has turned to South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa in its increasingly forceful defence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prolonged stay outside the country and his absence from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, says there is no cause for alarm over the President’s whereabouts, insisting that Tinubu is “hale and hearty” and has been carrying out official duties while on a working vacation in Europe.
But in defending Tinubu, Onanuga has drawn Ramaphosa into the controversy, pointing out that the South African President was also not physically present at this year’s UNGA.
“Two other important African leaders were not in New York for the UNGA: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi,” Onanuga said on X.
He argued that there had been no comparable uproar in South Africa over Ramaphosa’s absence and no major controversy in Egypt over el-Sisi’s decision not to attend in person.
The comparison, however, comes as the Nigerian Presidency faces growing questions over Tinubu’s extended absence.
Tinubu reportedly left Nigeria on August 30 for what was initially described as a three-week working vacation. He travelled first to London before moving to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. The Presidency later announced that his stay had been extended by several days.
While Tinubu remained abroad, Vice-President Kashim Shettima travelled to New York to represent Nigeria at the 81st UN General Assembly.
Onanuga maintains that Tinubu’s physical absence from Abuja does not prevent him from running the government, arguing that modern communication technology allows the President to remain in contact with officials and direct affairs from abroad.
The presidential aide also pointed to Tinubu’s meetings with investors in France and his involvement in the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone project in Ogun Waterside as evidence that the President has remained engaged in official business during his vacation.
The defence came after opposition figures, including Peter Obi, questioned Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA and his extended stay outside Nigeria.
Onanuga hit back at Obi, accusing him of pretending not to know the President’s whereabouts despite the Presidency having publicly explained Tinubu’s travel and working arrangements.
The exchange has intensified scrutiny of the President’s absence, particularly after the Presidency had previously indicated that Tinubu would return to Nigeria at the weekend. A subsequent statement said his working vacation had been extended by a few days.
Onanuga says Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria this week for the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
The President is also expected to attend the Lagos premiere of a film commemorating the late MKO Abiola, whom Onanuga described as a martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
