Jimoh Ibrahim Defends Tinubu’s Four-Week Vacation, Says President Has Committed No Offence

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s four-week working vacation in Europe, insisting that the President did not commit any offence by remaining abroad while continuing to perform his official duties.

Ibrahim’s comments came amid criticism from opposition figures over Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria. Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had raised questions about the constitutional procedure surrounding the President’s absence, citing Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

Atiku questioned whether Tinubu had transmitted a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives transferring presidential functions to Vice President Kashim Shettima during his absence.

Ibrahim, however, rejected the suggestion that Tinubu breached any constitutional provision. He argued that there was a distinction between a working leave, during which the President continues to discharge his responsibilities, and an absolute absence from office.

“The President hasn’t committed any offence. Did he breach any provision of the Constitution? A working leave is completely different from absolute leave,” Ibrahim said, adding that public officials, like other human beings, require time away from their regular duties.

The controversy followed Tinubu’s decision to extend his stay in Europe after initially departing Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a three-week working vacation. The President spent time in London before travelling to Paris, where the Presidency said he held meetings with foreign leaders and business figures while continuing to direct government affairs remotely.

Tinubu eventually returned to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks abroad. The Presidency confirmed that he had ended his working vacation and travelled from Paris to Lagos.

Upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Tinubu dismissed rumours concerning his health, describing them as politically motivated. The President told reporters that he was fine and ready to resume work, while also saying he enjoyed his vacation.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the President’s return has brought the prolonged absence controversy into renewed focus, with supporters defending the trip as a working vacation and opposition figures continuing to question whether the constitutional requirements concerning presidential absence were followed. The Presidency, for its part, has maintained that Tinubu remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.