The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of showing a “disturbing pattern of absentee leadership” following recent movements between Plateau and Lagos states.
In a statement by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, the president’s conduct was described as “troubling and unacceptable,” particularly amid rising security concerns.
Reacting to Tinubu’s visit to Jos after a deadly attack, Shaibu said the trip was “shockingly brief and perfunctory,” adding that the president “spent barely 10 minutes at the Jos Airport before departing, an act widely perceived as dismissive of the gravity of the tragedy.”
He also dismissed claims that the short stay was due to official duties in Lagos, arguing that the president’s subsequent engagements did not justify the rush.
According to the statement, the president’s two-day working visit to Lagos has been marked by limited visibility, as he was “largely confined to his private residence, with little to no visible engagement.”
Shaibu further noted that Tinubu skipped key events, including the commissioning of the Opebi–Mende–Ojota Link Bridge and the inauguration of a Multi-Agency Complex, delegating those duties instead.
“At a time when Nigeria is grappling with worsening insecurity, rising terrorist attacks, and growing international concern, such indifference at the highest level of leadership is both alarming and indefensible,” he said.
He added that the situation reflects “a presidency that appears detached, disengaged, and disturbingly casual about the weighty obligations of governance.”
“We, therefore, call on President Tinubu to urgently recalibrate his approach to governance, re-engage fully with the demands of his office, and demonstrate the seriousness of purpose required to confront the daunting challenges facing our nation. Anything less would amount to a grave disservice to the Nigerian people.”