Tinubu Can Go Wherever He Wants’ – Abati Fires Back At Atiku Over Foreign Trips

Arise Television anchor Reuben Abati has dismissed concerns raised by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over President Bola Tinubu’s three-week working vacation in Europe.

Atiku had criticised the President’s decision to embark on the trip, arguing that it was inappropriate amid the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.

Reacting during an episode of The Morning Show on Monday, Abati described some of the questions coming from Atiku’s camp as embarrassing and suggested that they had not been sufficiently researched.

According to Abati, Tinubu is constitutionally entitled to travel outside the country and can visit any destination of his choice, provided his absence does not exceed the period that would require him to formally transfer power.

He explained that Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides a framework for the transfer of presidential powers when the President is away for a period that exceeds the prescribed threshold.

Abati said Tinubu’s three-week trip appeared to have been structured within the 21-day period, meaning there was no indication that the President was required to transmit power to the Vice President.

He said:

“The Atiku group is also raising questions that are embarrassing and have not been properly researched: ‘I will reopen all our borders. Tinubu is 90 years old; I will provide the evidence. Tinubu should not travel abroad. Why is he travelling?’

“Okay, let me address that very quickly. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has now gone on what they call a working vacation for three weeks, which he is entitled to. If you break that down, I think the major concern, as I see it, is that the presidency has tried to stay within the 21-day threshold under Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

“I guess if the president travels and it doesn’t exceed 21 days, he doesn’t have to hand over. So, there’s no evidence that the president has handed over.”

Abati maintained that whether the trip was described as a working vacation or a state visit, Tinubu was within his rights to travel.

“As for a working vacation, state visit or whatever, he is entitled to it. So, wherever he wants to go, he can go,” he said.

He also referred to the explanation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that the President needed the break to “refuel,” saying the party was entitled to maintain that position.

However, Abati said Atiku’s camp should instead focus on the whereabouts of Vice President Kashim Shettima at the time Tinubu departed Nigeria.

According to him, the more important issue was that Shettima was reportedly outside the country in Angola while Tinubu was travelling to Europe.

Abati said:

“I think where the problem is, which is where the Atiku camp should have put their focus, is that as of the time the president was travelling yesterday, I’m not sure that the Vice President of Nigeria was in the country.

“So, at the same time, the Vice President was in Angola, while the President was on his way to Europe.”