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VENO TV EDITORIAL AS PRESIDENT TINUBU BEGINS THREE-WEEK EUROPE VACATION Shettima Was Away in Angola — What a Country!
Date: 01-09-26

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Nigeria on Sunday, August 30, 2026, for a three-week vacation in Europe as part of his annual leave, with London as his first destination.

At virtually the same time, Vice President Kashim Shettima was also outside the country, representing the President at the African Union Extraordinary Summit in Luanda, Angola.

For that period, Nigerians were confronted with an important question: Who was effectively in charge at home?
In a country battling economic hardship, high living costs, unemployment, security challenges and increasing political tension ahead of the 2027 general election, the simultaneous absence of the President and Vice President naturally generated public concern.

There is nothing wrong with a President taking his constitutionally recognised annual vacation. Every leader needs rest. Likewise, there is nothing unusual about a Vice President representing Nigeria at an important international summit.

The concern is coordination, transparency and constitutional responsibility.
Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that whenever the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the Vice President performs the functions of the President as Acting President.
This is why Nigerians deserve clarity whenever the President embarks on an extended vacation.
Was such a letter transmitted?
If not, why not?
And when both the President and Vice President were outside Nigeria simultaneously, what arrangement was made to ensure there was no perception of a leadership vacuum?

Government is bigger than the physical presence of one individual. Ministers, security chiefs, civil servants and institutions continue to function. Modern communication also allows a President to receive briefings and issue instructions from almost anywhere in the world.

But constitutional leadership should not depend merely on telephone calls, emails or virtual meetings. Institutions must be respected and Nigerians should know clearly who possesses executive authority at every point in time.
The Presidency has said President Tinubu's trip is a working vacation and that he will continue to attend to matters of state. That explanation is noted.
Vice President Shettima has also since returned to Abuja after completing his assignment in Angola.

Nevertheless, the episode should provide a lesson for the future.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and one of its largest economies. At a critical period when millions of citizens are asking difficult questions about food prices, transportation, jobs, security and governance, the appearance of a leadership vacuum should be avoided.
The President deserves his vacation.

The Vice President must perform international assignments when required.
But Nigeria also deserves an unmistakable chain of command.
Leadership must not only exist; Nigerians must be able to see clearly where responsibility rests.

That is what constitutional democracy demands.
— VENO TV EDITORIAL
September 1, 2026
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