*To Mark Independence Anniversary In Lagos, Back To Abuja Weekend
*‘What Exactly Is Tinubu Doing In France’
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has once again shifted his return to Nigeria to Tuesday, September 29, from a four-week working vacation in Europe.
Tinubu, upon return, is scheduled to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary in Lagos before returning to Abuja weekend.
The President would arrive in Nigeria via Lagos, where he is expected to be received at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and is expected to remain in Lagos and mark the country’s independence anniversary and deliver a national broadcast on Thursday, October 1.
It will be his second consecutive Independence Day in Lagos, following last year’s anniversary at a time of heightened security concerns due to allegations of a planned coup.
Recall that the President began a working vacation on August 30, with the Presidency saying it was a three-week annual leave, with London as his first stop, but on September 21, announced that Tinubu would extend his stay by a few days and was to return to Nigeria by Sunday, September 27.
Although abroad, Tinubu skipped the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, represented by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who departed Abuja on September 20, at a time the President was also out of the country, sparking debate over who was really in charge of the country’s affairs at home.
His long stay also triggered a constitutional debate, with opposition figures questioning whether he had not violated Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that the President shall transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation, after which the Vice President performs the functions of the President in an acting capacity.
On Tuesday, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stressed that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock, and that Tinubu remained in charge of the country’s affairs, despite his long absence from Nigeria.
Indeed, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, questioned asked Tinubu was still doing in Paris, France, upon the expiration of his official three-week vacation, and when French President, Emmanuel Macron, attended the UNGA and returned home.
Citing Section 145(2) of the Constitution,Atiku lamented that Tinubu had now been away for over 28 days, saying: “President Bola Tinubu left Nigeria on 30 August for what the Presidency described as a three-week annual vacation.
“That period expired days ago. His return was subsequently extended, and reports today indicate that his expected return today has been postponed yet again.
“The obvious question is: What exactly is keeping the President of Nigeria in Paris? So, where is the letter? If it was transmitted, let the Presidency, Senate President or Speaker publish it.
“If no letter was transmitted, Nigerians deserve to know why the constitutional procedure has not been followed. We do not want to believe insinuations that the inner circle of Tinubu is scared of Shettima being handed the Acting President authority.
“Former President, Muhammadu Buhari, transferred presidential functions to vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, on five occasions during his tenure, including through formal Section 145 communications to the National Assembly.”
