‘Nigeria is burning’ — Atiku faults Tinubu for embarking on Europe vacation
Former Vice President Critiques Tinubu’s Vacation Amid National Challenges
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a candidate in the 2027 presidential election representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticized President Bola Tinubu for embarking on a three-week vacation in Europe while Nigeria grapples with pressing economic and security issues.
In a statement released after Tinubu’s departure, Atiku expressed concern that the President’s absence during a time of widespread hardship signals a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.” He acknowledged that while there is no constitutional vacuum, the timing of Tinubu’s trip raises questions about his commitment to addressing the nation’s challenges.
“Nigeria may not be facing a constitutional vacuum today, but there is a disturbing vacuum of political leadership,” Atiku stated.
He further distinguished between the obligations of a sitting president and those of a private citizen, emphasizing the weight of presidential responsibilities. “I have travelled, lived, and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Atiku cited several pressing issues plaguing Nigerians, including rising living costs, food insecurity, skyrocketing transport fares, and ongoing insecurity. He argued that these circumstances necessitate the President’s physical presence in the country.
“Consider what Bola Tinubu is leaving behind. Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own village into a luxury. Insecurity that buries Nigerians week after week,” he noted.
He also pointed out that Vice President Kashim Shettima was out of the country on official duties, describing Tinubu’s decision to travel under the current conditions as perplexing. According to Atiku, effective leadership involves recognizing when a leader’s presence is essential at home.
“Leadership is not merely the constitutional right to occupy an office; it is the judgment to know when your country needs you at home,” he stated.
Using a fire analogy, Atiku suggested that a leader should remain with their people in times of crisis. “A father may travel when all is well. But when his roof is burning and his family is trapped inside, he does not pick up his suitcase and head for the airport,” he said.
While Atiku emphasized that his criticism does not stem from the belief that a president should never travel, he highlighted the urgency of Nigeria’s current circumstances. “It is not that a President must never rest or travel. It is that Nigeria is burning, and the President has chosen a boarding pass over the fire extinguisher,” he remarked.
He also critiqued the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, asserting that many Nigerians are struggling to make ends meet. “Millions of Nigerians are being grounded by hardship while their President is airborne,” Atiku said.
Atiku concluded by contrasting his vision for the nation’s leadership with that of the current administration, stating, “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.”
