As Tinubu and Shettima remain abroad, the Presidency has revealed the officials currently in charge of Nigeria’s leadership and governance.
The Presidency has appointed Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to the Government of the Federation AGF George Akume, and the Ministers as responsible for leading the country while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are absent.
Peoplesmind states that while the President and Vice President are both currently out of the country, the presidency assures that leadership remains stable and there is no power vacuum.
Journalists and well-meaning individuals have inquired about who is leading the country during the absence of its first and second citizens.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency referenced a similar situation from President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent administration.
According to the statement: “It’s crucial to recognize that both the President and Vice President remain fully involved in managing national affairs, even when they are not physically present. The nation continues under strong leadership without any gaps.”
OBASANJONEWS reports that Tinubu departed the country on October 3 for a two-week working vacation, while the vice president left on Wednesday for an official visit to Sweden as part of his duties for Nigeria.
According to the statement, all state organs are operating normally. The Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, and service chiefs are in their respective roles, ensuring that government operations proceed smoothly.
In 2022, we faced a similar scenario when both former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were out of the country at the same time. President Buhari was attending UNGA 77, while Vice President Osinbajo participated in Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral services.
During this administration, we also encountered a similar situation. Between late April and early May of this year, while President Tinubu was in London following his visits to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum, Vice President Shettima departed Nigeria for Nairobi to attend the International Development Association (IDA21) Heads of State Summit.
Upon his return, he departed for Dallas, Texas to participate in the US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa. President Tinubu arrived back home on May 8. During this period, government operations continued without interruption.
The Constitution, a reflection of our flexibility in the digital era, does not require the president or vice president to be physically present in the country at all times to carry out their duties.
Peoplesmind
