Tinubu’s absence from UNGA deliberate, President hale and hearty – Presidency

The Presidency has dismissed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria, saying he is “hale and hearty” and currently on a working vacation in Europe.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a post on X on Sunday while responding to questions surrounding Tinubu’s whereabouts and his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Onanuga said Tinubu was entitled to his annual vacation and had continued to discharge his responsibilities despite being outside Abuja.

He said advances in digital communication meant that the President did not need to be physically present in Abuja to perform his official duties.

According to him, Tinubu had remained engaged during the vacation, including meetings with investors in France.

Onanuga cited the recent signing of agreements involving the Ogun State Government and DP World for the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone at Ogun Waterside as one of the President’s recent engagements. The agreements were signed in Paris on September 24 in an event witnessed by Tinubu.

The presidential aide also defended Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA, noting that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi were also absent from the gathering.

Tinubu had delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent Nigeria at the UNGA in New York. The Presidency had earlier said Tinubu’s working vacation, which began on August 30, had been extended by a few days.

Onanuga also criticised former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over questions raised about Tinubu’s whereabouts.

“Yet Peter Obi pretends to be unaware of President Tinubu’s whereabouts and asks the puerile question his followers are asking on X,” he said.

The presidential spokesman said Tinubu would return to Nigeria this week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

He added that the President would attend the Lagos premiere of a film commemorating the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, MKO, whose role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle has been widely documented.