Publish Tinubu’s Substantive Engagements In Paris – Atiku’s Aide Tells Presidency

Paul Ibe, a media aide to African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the Presidency to publish details of President Bola Tinubu’s substantive engagements in Paris and the outcomes of his activities while remaining in France.

Ibe made the demand on Monday in a post on his X account while reacting to the Presidency’s explanation of Tinubu’s prolonged stay outside Nigeria.

He said the issue was not whether the President was “hale and hearty”, but why he had remained abroad beyond the three-week vacation initially announced by the Presidency on August 30.

According to Ibe, the Presidency had, after the initial period elapsed, announced that Tinubu’s vacation had been extended “by a few days” and that he would return to Nigeria at the weekend.

He argued that describing the President’s stay as a “working vacation” without providing details of his official engagements did not adequately address the concerns surrounding his prolonged absence.

“The Presidency should publish Tinubu’s substantive engagements and their outcomes. Nigerians can then judge whether this prolonged absence is justified,” Ibe said.

The ADC chieftain also questioned the use of the proposed $7 billion Ogun deep-seaport project as part of the justification for Tinubu’s activities in France.

He noted that the agreement was between the Ogun State Government and DP World, with Tinubu witnessing the signing.

Ibe also rejected comparisons between Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York and the absence of the presidents of South Africa and Egypt.

He argued that the circumstances surrounding the absences of those leaders had been publicly explained and formally accounted for.

The Atiku’s aide further referenced French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted Tinubu at the Élysée Palace before travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly, while Tinubu remained in France.

“Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron, who hosted Tinubu at the Élysée Palace, travelled to New York for UNGA and returned while Tinubu remained in France on housekeeping duties. Nigeria, not France needs your housekeeping,” he wrote.

Ibe’s comments followed a fresh defence of Tinubu’s absence by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga had said on Sunday that Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and would return to Nigeria during the week after spending several weeks abroad on what the Presidency described as a working vacation.

He maintained that the President had continued to perform his duties while abroad, including engaging with investors in France.

Onanuga specifically cited Tinubu’s involvement in activities surrounding the $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside.

He also defended the President’s decision not to attend the UNGA in person, saying Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the gathering.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for his annual working vacation, initially travelling to London before moving to Paris. The Presidency later announced that the vacation had been extended by a few days.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria this week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary, according to Onanuga.