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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Oluwole Olumayokun Oluyede, has faulted former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three-week vacation abroad, describing the criticism as misplaced.
Oluyede, who is also the Convener of the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda (OPARHA), said Nigeria’s political discourse should focus on finding practical solutions to the country’s economic and security challenges rather than turning a routine presidential vacation into a political controversy.
Atiku had criticised Tinubu’s decision to travel abroad, arguing that the President ought to remain in the country amid the economic hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians.
The former Vice-President had described the President’s absence as a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
But Oluyede disagreed, saying Tinubu was on his annual vacation and had not abandoned his constitutional responsibilities.
In a statement on Monday, the PDP chieftain stressed that there was a clear distinction between taking annual leave and abandoning official duties.
“President Tinubu is not missing from duty or running away from Nigeria. He is on his annual vacation. There is a significant difference between abandoning official responsibilities and taking a period of annual leave.
“Leadership should not be measured simply by the number of days a President spends physically within the country. The more important question is whether the machinery of government continues to function and whether the government is taking the right decisions to address the challenges facing Nigerians.”
Oluyede said Atiku’s comparison of a father leaving a burning house while his family remained trapped inside might appeal politically, but did not accurately represent how a constitutional democracy functions.
He noted that Nigeria has institutions and officials empowered to continue the affairs of government whenever the President is temporarily away.
“Nigeria is not a family house where everything stops because the father walks out of the door. There is a Vice-President, ministers, security chiefs, heads of government agencies and other officials who continue to discharge their responsibilities.
“The President taking his annual leave does not amount to a vacuum of leadership,” he said.
‘Hardship Is Real’
Oluyede, however, acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, stressing that the hardship being experienced by citizens should not be dismissed.
He cited the rising cost of food, transportation and other basic necessities, alongside insecurity and unemployment, as serious challenges requiring sustained attention from the Federal Government.
‘Hardship Is Real’
Oluyede, however, acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, stressing that the hardship being experienced by citizens should not be dismissed.
He cited the rising cost of food, transportation and other basic necessities, alongside insecurity and unemployment, as serious challenges requiring sustained attention from the Federal Government.
“Nobody should dismiss the hardship being experienced by Nigerians. These are real concerns, and the government must continue to respond to them.
“But we must separate legitimate criticism from political rhetoric. Turning the President’s annual vacation into evidence of a leadership vacuum does not address the problems Nigerians are facing,” he said.
The OPARHA convener also challenged Atiku’s assertion that Tinubu had simply “made Nigeria expensive”, arguing that the country’s economic difficulties predated the present administration and were rooted in longstanding structural challenges.
According to him, Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, foreign exchange instability, low domestic production, infrastructure deficits and years of fiscal challenges have contributed to the current economic situation.
He said the focus should therefore be on making the economy more productive and ensuring that government policies ultimately reduce the burden on ordinary Nigerians.
‘Nigerians Deserve Policies, Not Slogans’
Oluyede also challenged opposition politicians to offer concrete alternatives to the policies of the Tinubu administration.
“If you believe the direction of the economy is wrong, tell Nigerians what you would do differently.
“If you oppose subsidy removal, explain how you would sustainably finance the subsidy regime. If you disagree with the exchange-rate policy, present a credible alternative. If you believe food prices can be reduced, tell Nigerians how you intend to increase domestic food production and improve distribution.
