Former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has expressed concerns regarding President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima simultaneously leaving the country for foreign trips, stating that it is not an ideal situation for governance. He shared his views during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Thursday.
Akande emphasized the importance of having one of the two leaders present in Nigeria, highlighting that effective governance requires constant oversight and hands-on engagement. “It is important for one of them to be on the ground because the work of governance requires a lot of hand-holding,” he stated.
He further noted that there is a persistent issue with trust and communication between the President and the Vice President that has not been fully resolved over time. “In my view, we still have a very serious problem of sustained trust in the relationship between the President and the Vice President,” Akande added.
President Tinubu left Nigeria on October 2, 2024, for a two-week work leave in the United Kingdom, while Vice President Shettima departed Abuja on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Sweden, where he is representing Nigeria in bilateral discussions with the Scandinavian country.
In response to concerns about their simultaneous absences, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga issued a statement on Wednesday asserting that both leaders are “fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away,” and assured the public that there is no governance vacuum during their travels.
However, Akande argued that the optimal scenario is to avoid a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country at the same time. He recalled his experience during the eight years he served in the administration, noting that such a situation occurred only once, during the burial of the Queen of England, which coincided with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
He remarked on how the President and Vice President were attentive to each other’s schedules during that time, ensuring that one of them remained in the country.
Akande pointed out that throughout his tenure, there was a concerted effort to ensure that at least one leader was always present in Nigeria. He shared instances where the Vice President had to cut short foreign trips to return due to pressing matters requiring the President’s attention.
“I know quite a few times when the Vice President had to just wrap up foreign trips because something happened and the President would have to travel,” he noted.
