Atiku Abubakar criticizes President Tinubu's three-week European vacation amid economic hardship
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for embarking on a three-week vacation in Europe. Abubakar stated his concerns on his verified X account, questioning the timing of the trip given Nigeria's economic hardship and insecurity. President Tinubu departed Abuja for Europe, with London as his initial destination, for an annual leave. His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the President's departure, stating he would return to join the campaign for the January 2027 general election. Abubakar highlighted that Vice President Kashim Shettima was also out of the country on official duty, making Tinubu's decision to travel difficult to understand. He emphasized that leadership involves knowing when the country needs its leader at home, citing rising petrol prices, food hardship, increased transport fares, and persistent insecurity as challenges requiring the President's attention. Abubakar clarified that his criticism was not against presidential vacations or foreign travel in general, but rather the President's absence during a period of national crisis. He likened Tinubu's vacation to a father leaving home during a family emergency, suggesting the President is detached from the suffering of Nigerians and that the country's economic situation demands urgent intervention. Abubakar also claimed that millions of Nigerians are struggling with basic transportation
