Spokesman of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shuaibu, has berated President Bola Tinubu for failing to make a public appearance at key state functions in Lagos State despite his presence in the state.
Speaking via a statement on Thursday, the aide accused the president of exhibiting what he termed “absentee leadership.”
He also referenced the president’s recent visit to Plateau State, describing it as “brief and perfunctory” following a deadly attack, noting that Tinubu reportedly spent only a short time at the Jos Airport before departing.
“It is troubling and unacceptable that, despite embarking on a two-day working visit to Lagos State, the President failed to make meaningful public appearances at key project unveilings.
“The increasingly disturbing pattern of absentee leadership exhibited by the President raises serious questions about his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him by the Nigerian people,” the statement said.
Shuaibu argued that the justification that the president left Plateau for official duties in Lagos has now been undermined by his limited visibility since arriving in the state.
He further noted that the president delegated other major engagements, including the inauguration of the Opebi-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge and a multi-agency complex, to the Senate president.
“At a time when Nigeria is battling escalating insecurity, terrorist attacks, and growing international concern, such perceived detachment from governance is alarming,” the statement said.
Shuaibu warned that a pattern of limited public engagement, from the Plateau visit to the Lagos trip, suggests a presidency that appears disengaged from pressing national challenges.
He urged the president to “recalibrate his approach to governance” and demonstrate greater responsiveness and commitment to addressing the country’s security situation.