Opposition Summit: Who’s In Charge? PRP Queries Tinubu, Shettima’s Absence From Nigeria

The National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has questioned the simultaneous absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from Nigeria, asking who is currently in charge of the country.

Baba-Ahmed raised the concern on Monday in Abuja at the first national summit of opposition political leaders.

He said it was the first time in the nation’s history that a sitting president and his vice president would be out of the country at the same time.

“Who is in charge now?” he asked.

The PRP national chairman’s comments came after President Tinubu departed Abuja for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave.

According to a statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s first stop would be London, United Kingdom.

Onanuga also said the president was expected to return to Nigeria after the working vacation to join the campaign ahead of the January 2027 election.

Vice President Shettima had also earlier departed Abuja for Luanda, Angola, where he is representing the president at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The summit is expected to focus on conflict resolution and strategies for promoting lasting peace and stability across the African continent.

According to a statement by Shettima’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president will join African leaders and other key stakeholders to deliberate on practical solutions to regional security challenges and strengthen collective efforts towards conflict prevention and resolution.

Shettima, who is accompanied by senior defence and security officials, is expected to deliver President Tinubu’s address at the summit.

He will also present Nigeria’s position on the issues under consideration and reaffirm the country’s commitment to peace and stability across the continent.

Reacting to the president’s absence, Baba-Ahmed alleged that Tinubu had embarked on an emergency overseas trip to prevent the possible release of documents concerning him by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The PRP chairman, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.