Opposition Slams Tinubu, Shettima Over ‘Wasteful’ Foreign Trips

Opposition parties have criticized President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their frequent trips outside the country.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have all raised concerns over what they describe as excessive international travel by the country’s top leaders. 

The political organisations have called the trips wasteful and insensitive to Nigeria’s economic struggles. 

It can be recalled that President Tinubu on Wednesday departed the country for a two-week “working leave” in France.

Just a day later, on Thursday, Vice President Shettima left for Senegal to attend the country’s Independence Day celebrations. 

CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ahmeh, warned that these frequent trips are creating a leadership gap, affecting governance, security, and the economy. 

“This is a total disregard for administrative or constitutional procedures. When one is not in town, the other should take over. But when both are away, there’s no one to manage the country’s affairs, creating gaps in the economy, security, and other sectors,” Ahmeh said.

He also questioned Tinubu’s repeated visits to France, asking whether the country had become Nigeria’s “second home.” 

PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, described the frequent travels as irresponsible and suggested that Tinubu’s trips could be linked to medical reasons. 

“These travels show a lack of seriousness. The President and his vice are supposed to be serving the people of Nigeria, but they seem to be prioritising their personal needs over national governance,” Osadolor said. 

He argued that many of the events attended by Tinubu and Shettima could be handled by ambassadors or ministers. “It’s unnecessary for the president to attend every event abroad,” he added. 

Osadolor also urged the President to be more open about his health status, saying Nigerians deserve transparency. “He was elected to manage the economy and represent the people, not to live a lavish lifestyle abroad,” he stated. 

Meanwhile, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, has accused the leaders of leaving the country on “autopilot” while Nigerians struggle with economic hardship. 

“The constant overseas travels, especially during times of economic crisis, send the wrong message. It feels like we’re on our own,” Johnson said. 

He urged Tinubu to focus more on governance and “press the reset button” to deliver on his promises. 

However, a senior government official, who spoke anonymously, dismissed the criticisms, arguing that both leaders were on “legitimate” foreign assignments. 

“Yes, the President and Vice President are out of the country for legitimate reasons. This has happened before, and the country did not grind to a halt,” the official said. 

The Presidency insisted that modern governance does not require a leader’s physical presence.