The Presidency on Monday night faulted a claim by the Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has abandoned governance in Nigeria while the country is left with no one in charge.
The former vice president made the declaration on Monday in Abuja.
Checks revealed that while President Tinubu is presently observing his annual vacation in France after spending few days in London, the Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly summit, representing President Tinubu.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, in a statement disclosed that “President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days.”
Faulting Atiku’s claim that the nation is now rudderless with no one in charge, Onanuga declared that “the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also been representing the President at events, will continue to do so.
His statement read: “President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days.”
“President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the working vacation.
“After spending a week in London, he moved to Paris, France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Mr Vincent Bollore, whose media group includes Canal+, Multichoice, and Universal Music Group.
“Since he began the vacation, President Tinubu has continued to keep in touch with home, directing the affairs of the nation, like ordering an independent panel to investigate the death of 37 illegal miners in Minna, following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among other things.
“While away, President Tinubu delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official functions. Though Shettima left Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also been representing the President at events, will continue to do so.
“On the political front, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Abubakar Yari, has been leading notable party leaders in consultations with prominent traditional rulers in the country.
“The Presidency described the baseless insinuation by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by an ex-convict about President Tinubu’s non-attendance at UNGA as irresponsible.
“Vice President Shettima, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement.”