Nigerians have been informed by a statement issued by the Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, of the extension of President Tinubu’s vacation and his inability or unwillingness to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The statement, which is issued in utmost bad faith, is as disappointing as it is insulting to Nigerians. It is disappointing because no reasonable parent or caretaker goes on vacation when his house is burning. The underlying tone of the message is that Nigerians, no matter how highly or lowly placed, should not question why the President-a servant of the Nigerian people, should be held accountable for his decision to be absent from the meeting of global leaders.

We must remind the President and the Presidency that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu sought for this job, and by being sworn in, he became the servant, not lord and master, of the country and all Nigerians, who have a right to question how he governs them. It is therefore necessary to question why the President will be going on vacation at a time when insecurity is on a steady rise, the macroeconomic indices are looking bleak, and the citizens are fed daily with renewed hopelessness. The President’s action is a stark opposition to the existential reality of most Nigerians.

Furthermore, since he went on holiday in Europe, it was expected that he would proceed from there to America for UNGA- unarguably, the biggest gathering of world leaders, since the distance would be shorter from there. But the President and the Presidency seem to suggest that the President is at liberty to determine which tasks he handles and from where he handles them. There is no greater insult to the presidential mandate than this. If the President is not in Nigeria solving the problems of the country, he should be at UNGA seeking international help for the country, but our President is lounging and enjoying himself in a country whose president is at UNGA, and his handlers are questioning the rights of the President’s employers to demand accountability.

Nigerians are hereby called upon to note the disrespect and disdain that the Presidency has served on us for asking questions and demanding that our President execute the responsibilities of his office. This must guide our choices at the ballot in January, during the presidential elections, because we need a President who is ready, willing and able to work conscientiously for our country, locally and internationally.

Signed:
Comrade Ini Ememobong, mnipr
National Publicity Secretary
Interim National Working Committee
Peoples Democratic Party
22092026