The presidency has dismissed concerns over a possible leadership vacuum due to the absence of both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from the country.
President Tinubu departed Nigeria on October 3 for a two-week working vacation in the United Kingdom, while Vice President Shettima left Abuja on Wednesday for a two-day official visit to Sweden.
In a statement titled “There’s No Vacuum in Leadership as the President and VP Are Out of the Country,” Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, assured Nigerians that the absence of the nation’s top two leaders does not impact governance.
Onanuga explained that the 1999 Constitution does not require the physical presence of the president and vice president in the country for governance to function smoothly. He emphasized that all key government officials, including the Senate President, ministers, and service chiefs, remain in their positions, ensuring the continuity of state affairs.
The presidency further noted that President Tinubu, despite being on vacation, has continued to attend to state matters remotely and will return to the country before his leave ends. Similarly, Vice President Shettima is in Sweden engaging in high-level talks to strengthen Nigeria’s bilateral ties with Sweden in sectors such as ICT, innovation, and agriculture. He is expected back in Nigeria on Saturday.
Drawing from past occurrences, Onanuga highlighted that this is not the first time both the president and vice president have been abroad simultaneously, referencing similar situations during the administrations of both former President Buhari and President Tinubu.
Shettima’s trip includes meetings with Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and the Swedish Prime Minister, alongside private sector engagements, including talks with Norrsken, a venture capital impact investor focused on African tech entrepreneurs.
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