Laolu Akande, ex-aide, to former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has frowned at the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima from the country simultaneously, describing the situation as not ideal.
Naijaonpoint reports that while Tinubu is currently on a working leave outside Nigeria, Shettima travelled to Sweden on an official visit on Wednesday.
The absence of the two top citizens from the country when the nation is facing severe economic challenges has raised concerns among some Nigerians.
In reaction, Tinubu’s spokesperson on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said there is “no leadership vacuum in the country.”
In an interview on Channels TV, Akande emphasized the importance of having at least one of the two leaders present to maintain regular communication and attend to urgent issues.
Speaking on his experience during the previous administration, Akande said the scenario only happened once, noting that the past government managed to keep one leader in the country at all times.
He recalled instances where Osinbajo had to conclude foreign trips abruptly to return home when pressing issues arose.
He said, “I think the ideal thing is for us not to have a situation where both the president and vice president are not in town. During my eight years of service, it happened only once—during the burial of the Queen of England and the United Nations General Assembly. The president and vice president maintained regular communication, ensuring that someone was always available to address any urgent matters.
“This is the second time this has occurred under President Tinubu, as mentioned by Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
“This situation is not ideal, and it highlights a potential issue of sustained trust in the relationship between the president and vice president over time.”
He further acknowledged the precedent set by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who delegated authority to his deputy during his travels.
Akande urged the current administration to prioritize this ideal scenario, adding, “You have a president and vice president; let us have a situation where at least one of them is on ground.”