Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his decision to leave Nigeria for a three-week vacation in Europe.
Atiku made his position known on Sunday, arguing that the President’s absence came at a difficult time when many Nigerians were dealing with economic hardship, rising living costs and security concerns.
The former vice president said although Tinubu’s absence did not create a constitutional crisis, it raised concerns about the level of political leadership available to Nigerians while the President is away.
Atiku said the country was facing serious challenges that required strong attention from the Federal Government, including high petrol prices, increasing food costs, expensive transportation and continuing insecurity.
He argued that ordinary Nigerians were struggling to meet basic needs, with some families finding it difficult to afford food and transport.
The ADC presidential candidate also rejected any comparison between his own trips outside Nigeria and Tinubu’s current vacation, noting that the responsibilities of a serving President are different from those of a private citizen.
Atiku said he had travelled and spent time outside the country in the past but maintained that such movements could not be compared with the foreign trips of a sitting President who has direct responsibility for the affairs of the nation.
He questioned the decision for Tinubu to spend three weeks abroad at a period when Nigerians were facing several economic and security pressures.
According to Atiku, the current situation calls for effective leadership and close attention to the problems affecting citizens across the country.
He pointed to the cost of petrol as one of the major difficulties facing Nigerians, saying high fuel prices have added pressure to household expenses and transportation costs.
He also referred to food insecurity and the rising cost of travelling, saying transportation had become too expensive for many Nigerians, including those who wish to visit their home communities.
On security, Atiku said Nigerians continued to lose their lives as insecurity remained a major concern in different parts of the country.
The former vice president therefore questioned whether the President’s extended stay outside Nigeria was appropriate given the challenges confronting the country.
Tinubu left Abuja on Sunday for Europe to begin his three-week annual leave. According to the Presidency, London in the United Kingdom is his first destination, after which he is expected to return to Nigeria and join preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku’s criticism adds to the growing political debate surrounding the President’s vacation, with opposition figures using the development to question the government’s handling of the country’s economic and security situation.
The exchange also comes as political parties intensify their activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where Atiku is expected to challenge Tinubu under the ADC.