Earlier this year, BBC tagged President Tinubu “the flying president.” Now, he is out again with VP Shettima. Some critics believe this absentee leadership is a direct slap in the face to millions of Nigerians. This analysis interrogates why the leaders are not in the country dealing with the growing insecurity and mounting public dissatisfaction.
For the second time in less than a year, Nigeria’s president and vice president, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, have left the country simultaneously. At a time when Nigerians are grappling with mounting insecurity, economic collapse, and widespread hardship, their absence sends a disturbing message. Are the frequent trips a diplomatic necessity, or an outright display of insensitivity to the suffering of ordinary citizens?
In most democratic nations, it is highly unusual for both the president and vice president to travel abroad same time. For instance, the president and vice president of the United states have strict protocols ensuring they are never both out of the country at the same time. In the UK, the prime minister and deputy prime minister also avoid such trips.
Many countries see this as a risk to national security and political stability.The rationale is clear: a leadership vacuum could compromise national security and governance. In Nigeria, a nation already beset by insurgencies, kidnappings, and banditry, such an absence could escalate the country’s instability.
Nigerians demand answers to hardship, not absentee leadership
President Tinubu is in France for the “Crans Montana Forum” in Dakhla and Vice President Shettima is in Jordan for the “World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.” This happens amid unbearable economic challenges at home. Inflation is soaring, food prices are skyrocketing, and unemployment is at record highs. The country is in the midst of one of its most severe energy crises. Yet, in the face of this national hardship, both leaders are abroad—engaged in diplomatic affairs that many Nigerians feel could have been handled another way.
Earlier this year, BBC tagged Tinubu “the flying president.” Now, he is out again with Shettima. Some critics believe this absentee leadership is a direct slap in the face to millions of Nigerians. Why are the leaders not in the country dealing with the growing insecurity and mounting public dissatisfaction?
Tinubu’s official mission in France is focused on strengthening Nigeria’s international relations, attracting investment, and improving security cooperation. According to the presidency, Tinubu aims to advance “economic growth and security partnerships between Nigeria and European nations.” But many Nigerians wonder whether this will being immediate succour to a country teetering on the edge of collapse.
“These trips could have been delegated to ministers or lower-ranking officials,” says Dr. Chika Okoro, a Nigerian political analyst. “Tinubu’s absence at a time like this shows a worrying detachment from the dire situation in the country.” With growing insecurity and the economy in freefall, many argue that diplomatic relations should take a backseat to domestic issues.
The public outcry
Vice President Shettima’s trip focuses on securing investments in agriculture and infrastructure. But, many view it as an act of complete disconnection from the reality on the ground.
“This is tone-deaf leadership,” says political activist Aisha Bello. “While Nigerians are suffering daily from inflation and insecurity, both top leaders are globe-trotting to secure investments. This is the height of insensitivity.”
Some critics say the timing of these trips could not be worse. Nigeria is facing its highest inflation in over two decades, and the middle class is rapidly disappearing. At the same time, insurgents and bandits are wreaking havoc across the country. Kidnappings are intensifying. Yet, instead of addressing these pressing issues, the country’s leaders are abroad, looking for foreign investment deals that may never come.
The outcry among Nigerians has been deafening. Opposition parties have seized on this moment, amplifying public frustrations. “While Nigerians suffer, our president and vice president are missing in action,” said one opposition leader. “This is not leadership; this is a betrayal of the people’s trust.”
The opposition kicks
For ordinary Nigerians, it feels like their leaders are out of touch with the struggles they face daily. “It’s insulting,” says Julius, a small business owner in Lagos. “I can’t afford to buy food for my family, and these men are living it up in foreign countries. What are they doing for us?”
The opposition is not holding back. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party have been vocal in condemning the joint trips. Peter Obi took a swipe at the government recently, saying “a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country… it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems.”
“This is the clearest indication that Tinubu and Shettima are disconnected from the realities facing Nigerians,” said a PDP stalwart. “Their failure to remain in the country during such a critical time reveals how out of touch they are with the suffering of the masses.”
The bigger question about absentee leadership
Security experts say the simultaneous absence of Nigeria’s two top leaders has profound implications for national security and governance. With no clear chain of command, Nigeria could face a leadership vacuum in the event of an emergency.
“Leadership instability could embolden criminal groups, insurgents, and even separatist movements,” warns John Agboola, a security expert. “This absence could further unravel Nigeria’s already fragile security apparatus.” There are few clear mechanisms in place for handling emergencies or crises without the president or vice president physically present.
But, here is the bigger question: Is the country’s leadership system too fragile to function effectively without the constant presence of its top leaders? Can Nigeria afford to let both the president and vice president travel abroad while the country burns?
“This is symptomatic of a larger problem,” says Babajide Akinyemi, a Nigerian political scientist. “There is a systemic issue in Nigeria’s leadership structure. It appears to be a government that is incapable of focusing on the most urgent issues of the day.”
Akinyemi says internationally, this absence could weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic influence. “The absence of both key leaders signals dysfunction within the government. It can hurt Nigeria’s standing on the world stage, especially in negotiations for foreign aid, trade, and security partnerships,” he cautions.
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