Former human rights commission head criticizes Tinubu for staying abroad — Premium Times Nigeria

In Nigeria, former National Human Rights Commission chairman Chidi Odinkalu criticized President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged stay abroad. He said the simultaneous absence of the president and Vice President Kashim Shettima had created a problem in governing the country, Premium Times Nigeria reports.

Absence of the president and vice president

Odinkalu spoke on the Politics Today program on Channels Television. According to him, under previous administrations in Nigeria, there was a practice whereby either the president or the vice president remained in the country when the other official travelled abroad.

He cited the presidencies of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari as examples. Odinkalu also compared the situation to Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s prolonged periods outside the country and questioned whether Nigeria’s current leaders understand the duties associated with their offices.

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The authorities’ position and the Constitution

Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for a three-week working vacation in Europe. He initially stayed in London and later visited Paris, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. The presidential administration announced an extension of his stay by several days and said that Tinubu remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to manage state affairs.

On September 20, Shettima travelled to New York to represent Tinubu at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and deliver Nigeria’s national statement. The authorities said that during his absence, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume would represent the president at official events.

Odinkalu rejected the assumption that Akume could assume presidential powers. He referred to Article 145 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which provides that if the president is on leave or is unable to perform his duties, he must notify the Senate president and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in writing, while the vice president performs the functions of president as acting president.