Abuja — The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for embarking on concurrent foreign trips, describing the move as “executive rascality” that leaves Nigeria without effective leadership at a critical moment.
President Tinubu is currently in France on what the Presidency has described as a two-week “working visit,” while Vice President Shettima travelled to Dakar, Senegal, to represent Nigeria at the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations on April 4.
In a strongly worded statement, Wabara condemned the overlapping absence, warning that both leaders had “abandoned governance” at a time when the country is grappling with mounting domestic challenges.
“Mr. President has the right to travel outside the country when necessary,” Wabara acknowledged. “But he should duly hand over power to his Vice President in an acting capacity. It is absolutely improper for the Vice President, who should be the Acting President, to also leave the country while the President is away.”
Wabara noted that Nigeria is currently facing “boiling issues” that demand urgent executive attention, accusing the country’s top two officials of displaying a lack of preparedness and commitment to governance.
“How can the country be burning, and the number one and number two citizens be away?” he asked. “This can only happen in Nigeria. Tinubu and his vice have again clearly demonstrated that either they are overwhelmed or simply unprepared for governance.”
The BoT Chair further described the dual absence as a “misplacement of priorities” and an affront to the Nigerian people.
“How else can a leader show disdain for the people he swore an oath to lead and defend?” Wabara questioned. “Leaving the country headless at a time like this is not just irresponsible—it is dangerous.”
The presidency has yet to respond to the PDP BoT chairman’s remarks.
