President Bola Tinubu’s overseas trips and lack of transparency about his whereabouts have once again sparked speculation among Nigerians. On August 29, Tinubu left for China, with officials stating he would make a brief stop in Dubai. However, he was unexpectedly spotted in London on Wednesday, raising further questions.
Tinubu initially arrived in Beijing on September 1, where he spent a week in high-level meetings, signing agreements with Chinese political and business leaders during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. His official engagements concluded on September 5 after a meeting with Nigerians living in China. He left Beijing the same day. However, since his departure, Nigerians were left in the dark about his location until he resurfaced in London, where he met with King Charles III. A State House statement issued on September 6 revealed that Tinubu had directed relief efforts for victims of the Maiduguri flood, yet it failed to disclose his location at the time of issuing these directives.
The lack of transparency about the President’s movements is concerning. The office of the President is a public trust, and citizens have a right to know their leader’s whereabouts. Between his departure from China and appearance in London, no official explanation was provided, leaving Nigerians in the dark once again.
This isn’t the first time Tinubu’s travel itinerary has sparked confusion. On April 23, he travelled to The Netherlands to meet with then-Prime Minister Mark Rutte, followed by a trip to Saudi Arabia for a World Economic Forum event. After the forum ended on April 29, the President remained abroad for six days without any communication about his extended stay. It wasn’t until May 8 that the Presidency disclosed Tinubu would return from Europe the next day.
Similarly, on January 24, Tinubu embarked on a “private visit” to France, which was shrouded in secrecy and led to speculation about his health until he returned two weeks later. Another trip to France on August 19, this time aboard the new presidential jet, was also described as a brief work stay, but again, details were scarce.
Meanwhile, back in Nigeria, pressing domestic issues continue to unfold. A protracted fuel crisis has persisted for over a month, and widespread flooding has affected states like Borno and Bauchi. Despite these crises, there has been little visible leadership on the ground, as terrorists and bandits continue to wreak havoc across the country.
Tinubu’s absence during such critical moments raises questions about his prioritization of foreign trips over domestic issues. While he was addressing petrol subsidy removal and infrastructure development in China, Nigerians were struggling with 16-hour fuel queues, a situation that calls for immediate leadership.
The lack of transparency surrounding Tinubu’s travels echoes the actions of past Nigerian leaders. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua spent months in foreign hospitals while his aides misled the public about his ability to function, leading to his death in May 2010. Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari spent 225 days abroad for medical treatments, with little communication to the public.
In democratic nations, accountability is paramount. Leaders like those of the United States or the United Kingdom are expected to keep citizens informed of their whereabouts at all times. The same should be expected in Nigeria.
For a President to make unannounced or unexplained trips abroad undermines the dignity of the office and erodes public trust. Tinubu must recognize the gravity of his role as Commander-in-Chief and the importance of accountability to the Nigerian people.
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