Atiku challenges Tinubu’s decision to vacation abroad amid economic hardship

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to embark on a three-week vacation in Europe, questioning the timing of the trip as Nigerians continue to grapple with economic hardship, insecurity and rising living costs.

Tinubu is currently travelling to Europe as part of his annual leave. Presidential aide Sunday Dare defended the trip, describing it as deserved after what he said had been a demanding period for the president.

But Atiku, who is the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), argued that the president’s absence comes at a time when the country requires stronger political leadership.

In a statement posted on his social media platforms on Sunday, Atiku said Nigeria might not be experiencing a formal constitutional vacuum, but suggested that there was a serious gap in political leadership.

“Nigeria may not be facing a constitutional vacuum today, but there is a disturbing vacuum of political leadership,” he said.

‘Nigeria Is Burning’

Atiku distinguished between the freedom of a private citizen to travel and the responsibilities attached to occupying the presidency.

“I have travelled, lived and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

He then listed what he described as the major challenges confronting Nigerians, including high petrol prices, food insecurity, expensive transportation and persistent insecurity.

“Consider what Bola Tinubu is leaving behind. Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own village into a luxury. Insecurity that buries Nigerians week after week,” Atiku said.

He questioned the decision to spend three weeks abroad under such circumstances.

“And in the middle of all this, President Tinubu has packed his bags for three weeks in Europe,” he added.

The former vice-president also pointed to Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s ongoing official engagement outside Nigeria, noting that Shettima is attending the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.

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According to Atiku, the simultaneous absence of both the president and vice-president raises questions about the administration’s response to domestic challenges.

Leadership or Legitimate Vacation?

At the heart of Atiku’s criticism is a broader question about whether a president’s personal need for rest should be weighed against the severity of circumstances facing the country.

“Leadership is not merely the constitutional right to occupy an office; it is the judgment to know when your country needs you at home,” he said.

Using a family analogy, Atiku argued that leaders should prioritise urgent national problems when circumstances demand it.

“A father may travel when all is well. But when his roof is burning and his family is trapped inside, he does not pick up his suitcase and head for the airport,” he said.

He described the president’s trip as evidence of what he characterised as a disconnect between government and citizens struggling with the rising cost of living.

“Nigeria is burning, and the President has chosen a boarding pass over the fire extinguisher,” Atiku declared.

He further argued that Nigerians facing economic hardship may find the president’s overseas vacation particularly difficult to reconcile with their own circumstances.

“Millions of Nigerians are being grounded by hardship while their President is airborne. The people can barely afford to move, but the President keeps moving,” he said.

Political Stakes Ahead of 2027

Atiku’s criticism comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the former vice-president emerging as a prominent opposition figure under the ADC platform.

He accused the Tinubu administration of failing to adequately respond to the economic consequences of its policies and promised a contrasting approach if given the opportunity to lead the country.

“A government that cannot feel the pain it inflicts will never summon the will to end it,” Atiku said.

He concluded with a direct political message: “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.”

The statement is likely to further sharpen the political contest between the Tinubu administration and opposition forces as parties position themselves for the 2027 elections.