The camp of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu following French President Emmanuel Macron’s postponed planned visit to Nigeria.
Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku, said Tinubu should learn from Macron’s decision to postpone his planned state visit to Nigeria amid unrest and political tensions in France.
He argued that Nigerian leaders should demonstrate the same urgency when citizens face insecurity, economic hardship and other national challenges.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, Ibe said the development offered Tinubu a lesson in prioritising domestic concerns over personal comfort.
He recalled that Tinubu extended his stay abroad last month while Nigerians faced worsening insecurity, rising living costs and the reported deaths of 37 people in Civil Defence custody in Niger State.
According to Ibe, the president’s description of his extended stay abroad as a “working vacation” failed to address concerns about his absence from the country.
He also faulted Tinubu for spending time in Paris while Macron travelled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Ibe noted that Macron addressed the UN on September 22, while Tinubu departed Paris on September 29.
He further accused Tinubu of staying away from campaigns in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states, arguing that the president’s absence from the political process reflected concerns about his administration’s performance.
“Mr President, borrow a page from your host’s book: when citizens are hurting, presidential priorities must visibly reflect their pain,” Ibe said.
He added that Nigerians deserved presidential presence, empathy, accountability and tangible results rather than explanations for prolonged absences from the country.
Ibe maintained that describing an extended stay abroad as a working vacation would not resolve the concerns of citizens facing economic and security challenges.
The criticism followed reports on Friday that Macron and Tinubu had agreed to postpone the French leader’s planned state visit to Nigeria until 2027.
Politics Nigeria reports that the visit was initially scheduled for October 28 and 29 and was expected to strengthen relations between both countries, particularly in trade, investment, energy and solid minerals.
A French presidential source was also reported to have confirmed the postponement of Macron’s planned visit to Senegal.
Although the source did not directly attribute the decision to the unrest in France, the postponement came as Macron faced mounting domestic pressure following protests that began on October 17.
The demonstrations reportedly involved clashes, looting and vandalism in several French cities, raising concerns about public security.
On Thursday, Macron threatened to ban what he described as “illegitimate” protests, blaming ultra-left groups and vandals for the violence.
Speaking after a meeting with intelligence chiefs and senior ministers, the French president said trade union demonstrations would be permitted but could be redirected to protect businesses.
Authorities in Marseille and Lyon also banned protests planned for Saturday as security agencies prepared for further demonstrations.
France’s main student union, UNEF, had called for rallies, while the Yellow Vest movement planned a march through central Paris.
No specific date had been announced for Macron’s rescheduled visit to Nigeria in 2027 as of Friday.
Tinubu has visited France several times since his state visit to the country in November 2024.
In May 2026, he travelled to France as part of a three-nation trip that included participation in the Africa-France Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
He also visited London and Paris during his annual leave in August and September 2026, arriving in Paris around September 13.