Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his decision to embark on a three-week vacation in Europe amid economic hardship and security challenges facing Nigerians.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday, August 30, 2026, for Europe as part of his annual leave. According to the Presidency, his first destination is London, United Kingdom, and he is expected to return to Nigeria after the vacation to join campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Atiku questioned the timing of the President’s trip, arguing that Nigerians are currently dealing with rising living costs, high petrol prices, increasing transport fares and persistent insecurity.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the former vice president said Nigeria might not be facing a constitutional vacuum, but was experiencing what he described as a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
Atiku said there was a difference between the freedom of a private citizen to travel and the responsibilities of a sitting president, stressing that the timing of Tinubu’s absence was what concerned him.
He also expressed concern that Vice President Kashim Shettima was outside the country at the time, representing Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Luanda, Angola.
According to Atiku, the situation makes the President’s decision to spend three weeks abroad particularly difficult to understand, given the challenges confronting citizens.
He likened the situation to a father leaving for the airport while his family remained trapped in a burning house, arguing that the circumstances demanded stronger leadership and attention from the country’s top leadership.
Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of making life increasingly difficult for Nigerians and said his own political platform would seek to reverse the trend if elected in 2027.
The Presidency, however, has described Tinubu’s trip as a planned annual vacation. Presidential aide Sunday Dare said the President had spent several months dealing with issues of governance, including the economy and security, and needed time to rest and “refuel” ahead of the next phase of his engagements.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the three-week working vacation as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
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