IF the statement made public last week, Thursday, by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is to be taken with the expected thrust and elements of credibility, President Bola Tinubu is due to return to Nigeria today Monday 21, after over two weeks of being away to Paris and London apparently on health grounds. His Vice, Kashim Shetimma also traveled to Sweden raising the question of who indeed is in charge of the governance process of the country. Onanuga had explained that the President “remains fully engaged in Nigeria’s governance” and is in “constant communication with key government officials from his location.” The President’s absence from the country is at such a time when the challenge of heightened insecurity and weakening economy has overwhelmed the country with killings being recorded in their hundreds in parts of Benue and Plateau States.
It remains a skewed and uncanny paradox that a nation that will be quick to demand a medical confirmation of fitness even from a clerk in the civil service appears not to be concerned about the state of health of those aspiring to be engaged in the highest job in the land. The presidency had told Nigerians that the trip to Paris would afford Tinubu time to reflect and review his administration’s midterm progress and engage in strategic planning ahead of his second anniversary in office. But this sounds more like politically motivated propaganda aimed at hoodwinking gullible Nigerians rather than truthful communication aimed at citizenship engagement. According to Onanuga, the president needed to use the opportunity presented by his trip to Europe to appraise his administration’s midterm performance and assess key milestones.
His words: “This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year,” From his hospital base in Europe, the President was reported to have sent an Easter message to a beleaguered and economically battered nation under the throes of deepening insecurity. His message tried to establish a philosophical nexus between Easter as the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the renewed hope agenda of his administration. His words,” I remain steadfast in my commitment to delivering the promise of a Renewed Hope, a better, more just, and prosperous Nigeria for all.
The recent tragic incidents and the loss of lives in some parts of our country deeply saddened me. I understand the pain and fear these incidents have caused. Let me assure you that my administration’s resolve to restore peace and security remains unshakable. Forces of evil will never prevail over our country. I have given clear directives to the Armed Forces and all relevant security agencies to end insecurity decisively and without delay. With the unwavering courage and commitment of our gallant men and women in uniform, we are turning the tide and making steady progress in reclaiming peace and stability.
We are also grateful to all Nigerians for your patience and resilience as our economy begins to show encouraging signs of recovery. We understand the economic challenges many of you are facing, and we are working tirelessly to restore investor confidence, stabilise key sectors, and build an inclusive economy that serves the interests of all Nigerians.”
What indeed a message of “Renewed Hope” from a President who also doubles as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The scourge of absentee presidents has become a major drawback in Nigeria’s quest for a deepened democratic culture along constitutional lines and provisions. Nigeria passed through this thorny road under President Yar’Adua when the Doctrine of Necessity had to be invoked and it then became the more familiar under Buhari.
That the same circle is playing out under Tinubu makes one wonder if we are ever getting to learn some critical lessons that will help to deepen our democratic cultures and ethos. Just the same way political interest groups made a political issue out of Yar’Adua’s health and Nigerians were later told that Buhari could govern from any part of the world, the presidency told Nigerians last week that Tinubu was governing Nigeria remotely from Europe.
The Presidency had insisted that Tinubu continued to direct the affairs of state from Europe, despite being there for over two weeks. Remote presidency with all the dangers it portends has therefore become Nigeria’s latest contribution to world’s growing lexicon on democracy. Nigerians expected their President who also doubles as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to show up at Benue and Plateau that had been turned into a killing field .
Instead, Onanuga explained that the President had given “directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.” That indeed is remote presidency at work.
He added that “The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership,” Onanuga said, even as he urged the public to remain calm assuring citizens that “governance is preceding without interruption.” Beyond rhetoric’s and political polemics, we need to tell ourselves some home truths about the dysfunctionality of having near vegetating senior citizens as presidents.
The memories are still fresh how Buhari as President reportedly traveled to London repeatedly on “short leaves” and “routine medical check-ups.” Critical to the plague of absentee presidents is the intriguing power play of presidents that are not favorably disposed to transmitting power to their vice presidents as constitutionally provided.
It was a high pitched political drama in the case of Yar’Adua and Jonathan . It also took public outcry before the Buhari government could transmit power to vice president Yemi Osibanjo to act as president. Nigerians are currently beginning to raise concerns about the working relationship between the president and his vice Kashim Shetimma with respect to the necessity of power transmission in circumstances of frequent or prolonged foreign trips. What indeed is the place of a vice president who cannot be trusted with the instruments of office even for a defined duration.
Expectedly, the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) at the weekend has had to condemn Tinubu’s decision not to transfer power to Vice President Kashim Shettima during his absence from the country.
The group described the move as a direct affront to Nigeria’s constitutional framework and a dangerous deviation from democratic norms. The NYCN pointed to historical precedents where former Nigerian presidents complied with constitutional requirements by handing over power during periods of absence.
They cited the actions of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who transferred authority to Vice President Namadi Sambo during overseas trips, as well as the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who delegated responsibilities to then Vice President Jonathan amid health challenges in 2010.
Almost as some form of protest, the Vice President himself has had to travel to Sweden in Tinubu’s absence. This sends signal of a working relationship that truly needs to be healthier if the much mouthed and flaunted Renewed Hope agenda of the APC government will ever impact positively on the citizenry. Political power and its control should be deployed for an improved living condition in a safe and secured geopolitical entity. The midterm assessment shows clearly that more attention that is serious needs to be given to diligent and committed administration to take the economy out of the woods.
