Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has expressed deep disappointment over the concurrent foreign trips undertaken by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it “the height of executive rascality.”
Tinubu is currently on a two-week working visit to France, while Shettima is in Dakar, Senegal, to represent the President at the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations on April 4. Wabara, a prominent political figure, has strongly criticized the absence of both key leaders from the country at the same time, stating that it leaves Nigeria “headless.”
In his reaction, Wabara described the situation as a “serious dereliction of duty” and a flagrant disrespect for the Nigerian people. He underscored that while the President has the right to travel abroad when necessary, he must hand over power to his Vice President in an Acting capacity during such absences.
However, with both the President and the Vice President out of the country simultaneously, Wabara deems the absence an egregious misstep.
The former Senate President further argued that had Nigeria needed representation at the Senegalese event, the Foreign Affairs Minister could have been delegated instead of the Vice President leaving the country as well.
As Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wabara pointed out that it was not the first time both leaders had taken foreign trips together. He expressed concern over what he termed a “disdain for the people” demonstrated by their actions, questioning why the national interest was seemingly secondary to personal engagements such as a two-week vacation in France and participation in Senegal’s independence festivities.
“This is a time when the country is dealing with pressing issues that require the attention of the President and Vice President,” Wabara stated. “Their simultaneous absence amounts to an insult not only to Nigeria but to the offices they occupy.”
Wabara called on both Tinubu and Shettima to prioritize the welfare of the nation, urging them to stop “toying with the future of Nigerians” and refocus on governance.
He said: ”It’s baffling to hear that the President and his Vice both abandoned governance and travelled out of the country at the same time, thus leaving the country headless. How can the country be burning and the number one and number two citizens of the country be away? This can only happen in Nigeria.
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“How else can a leader show disdain for the people he swore an oath to lead and defend. Leaving the country headless at a time so many boiling issues demand presidential intervention, is a misplacement of priority.
“With the rising tension in Edo State and threats of reprisal in parts of the North; the bloodbath in Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto and Benue; the political apprehension in Rivers and Bayelsa States; plus the festering insecurity in many states; traveling out of Nigeria is the least to expect from any serious-minded, patriotic President and his Vice.
” Tinubu and his Vice, have again, clearly demonstrated that either they are overwhelmed or simply not prepared for governance. They have shown that they have little or no regard for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
The former Senate President urged the National Assembly not to fail in its constitutional role of acting as checks-and-balance to the Executive to avoid impunity.
Wabara who alleged that “democracy in Nigeria is under state capture”, warned against what he called “executive rascality”.
The ex-Diplomat advised Mr President to follow due process and the standard practice in governance; “and stop making our democracy a laughing stock before the global community”.
