By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Former presidential spokesperson and lead anchor of Arise News’ The Morning Show, Dr. Reuben Abati, has taken aim at presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his public criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to embark on a three-week annual vacation in Europe.
Speaking on Arise TV, Abati described the Atiku camp’s continuous fault-finding regarding presidential movements as “embarrassing” and lacking thorough research, asserting that a sitting president possesses the legal authority and administrative prerogative to travel or take scheduled leave.
Breakdown of the Controversy
The exchange follows President Tinubu’s departure from Abuja for a three-week annual leave in Europe (with an initial stop in London), which drew immediate pushback from the opposition.
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Atiku’s Initial Criticism: In a statement issued by his media team, Atiku condemned the timing of the trip amid ongoing economic hardships, petrol price adjustments, and security challenges. He described the President’s departure—occurring while Vice President Kashim Shettima was also abroad on official duty in Angola—as creating a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership” and likened it to a father leaving for the airport while his house is on fire.
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Abati’s Rebuttal: Faulting the opposition’s framing, Abati argued that political opponents often over-sensationalize routine executive travels instead of keeping public debates centered on policy performance. He noted that as long as state functions remain delegated according to constitutional provisions, a president is within his rights to travel or take leave.
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Presidency’s Defense: Echoing Abati’s perspective, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, reiterated that the three-week period represents a planned working vacation to allow the President to “refuel” after months of intense governance before returning for party and administrative engagements.
