Presidency Assures: No Leadership Vacuum Despite Tinubu and Shettima’s Absence

The Presidency has affirmed that there is no leadership vacuum in Nigeria, despite the temporary absence of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, assuring that governance remains stable and effective.

On Wednesday, the Presidency stated that President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima being out of the country does not result in a leadership vacuum.

Tinubu left for the country on October 2, 2024, embarking on a two-week working leave. Meanwhile, Shettima departed from Abuja on Wednesday to visit Sweden for two days in order to represent Nigeria in bilateral discussions with the Scandinavian nation.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, mentioned that despite being away, both leaders remain fully involved in managing the nation’s affairs.

Onanuga also mentioned that all state institutions are operating normally.

The statement emphasizes that the President and Vice President remain fully involved in national affairs, even when they are not physically present. There is no absence of leadership in their absence.

President Tinubu departed from the country on October 3rd for a two-week working vacation. During this period, he has remained actively engaged in state affairs by answering calls and issuing directives. He is expected to return before his vacation officially concludes.

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On Wednesday, the Vice President left for Sweden on an official visit representing Nigeria.

All state bodies are operating normally. The Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, and Service Chiefs remain in their roles, maintaining effective government operations.

In 2022, a similar situation arose when former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were both out of the country at the same time. During this period, President Buhari attended UNGA 77, while Vice President Osinbajo took part in Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession.

We encountered it during this administration as well. 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. His first destination was Nairobi for 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 organized by the Corporate Council on Africa. President Tinubu came back home on May 8th. Meanwhile, the government continued its operations without interruption.

The Constitution, highlighting our flexibility in the digital era, does not mandate that either the president or vice president must always be physically present in the country to carry out their duties.