The sudden ‘disappearance’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from Aso Rock has raised concerns among concerned citizens.
The second citizen of Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima, was also set to travel abroad recently, but due to a sudden change in plans, he was forced to remain in the country, ensuring that the Aso Rock seat of power was not left vacant.
Before Shettima’s trip to the United States, there were concerns about Tinubu’s whereabouts following his official visit to Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum meeting.
Reports are that Tinubu had not yet returned to Nigeria after the WEF meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which concluded on April 29, 2024.
On April 23, 2024, prior to the WEF summit, Tinubu visited the Netherlands at Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s invitation.
During his visit, President Tinubu engaged in important discussions with the Prime Minister and also met separately with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Kingdom.
While Nigerians were still wondering about Tinubu’s absence, Shettima was supposed to travel to Dallas, USA, to represent the president at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit organized by the Corporate Council on Africa.
Shettima was expected to participate in high-level dialogues, networking sessions, and plenary sessions at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, alongside other political and business leaders from Africa, the US, and beyond.
However, at the last minute, the Vice President cancelled his trip due to issues with the aircraft.
Where Is Our President?
Notable citizens have raised concerns about Tinubu’s whereabouts as no official statement has confirmed where the Nigerian leader is currently.
Joining the host of others in asking about Tinubu’s whereabouts, Deji Adeyanju, a popular rights activist and lawyer, described the incumbent administration as irresponsible amid reports that Shettima was set to leave the country, and Tinubu had yet to be seen in Aso Rock.
Adeyanju concluded that both the President and his Vice are taking Nigerians for granted.
“Even if you ask the Presidency, they don’t know where the president is, and I have come to the conclusion that the president of Nigeria is missing. Whether or not anybody likes it, this government is irresponsible and does not believe in accountability.
“Can you imagine the president of America disappearing for one week or the British Prime Minister, or the Prime Minister of Canada or the French President? Things like this can only happen in a Banana Republic.
“Even George Orwell’s Animal Farm will do better because when the king of the jungle goes missing, all kinds of things start happening. It’s safe to say that the country is without a captain; unfortunately, there is nobody to pinpoint in this government that is capable of administering.
“The last we heard about the missing president is that his jet malfunctioned, and since then, he has not been seen or sighted by anyone. Even if the president is undergoing medical tourism, Nigerians deserve to know,” Adeyanju said during a chat with the Daily Post.
He added: “The president of a country can’t just disappear into thin air without any explanation. President Tinubu is taking Nigerians for granted, even if he does not rate Nigerians, he should rate the millions of people that voted for him. There can be no justification whatsoever for this kind of rude behaviour.”
