Human rights lawyer and commentator Chidi Odinkalu has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against managing the affairs of Nigeria from outside the country. Odinkalu drew a direct comparison between the current administration’s perceived absenteeism and the leadership style of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya.
The critique follows the simultaneous absence of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from the country. Odinkalu argues that the departure of both the nation’s top two executives has created a leadership vacuum that previous Nigerian administrations had traditionally worked to avoid.
In comments regarding the current state of governance, Odinkalu suggested that operating a complex nation like Nigeria from a distance undermines the effectiveness of the presidency and the stability of its institutions.
Concerns over administrative continuity
The comparison to Paul Biya is significant in the African political context. Biya, who has led Cameroon for decades, has frequently faced criticism from civil society and international observers for a style of governance described as detached, with critics often alleging that key decisions are made from abroad or through a closed circle that lacks physical accountability to the citizenry.
Odinkalu noted that the current situation, where both the President and the Vice President are away, deviates from the political norms established by preceding governments. Traditionally, Nigerian political protocol has ensured that even during official foreign trips, at least one of the two highest offices remains within the country to provide immediate direction and maintain the chain of command.
The absence of the top leadership during periods of economic volatility and security challenges poses practical risks to the speed of government response. When the President and Vice President are not physically present, the hierarchy of decision-making within the Federal Executive Council and the various security agencies can face delays, often relying on an acting capacity that may lack the full mandate required for urgent national matters.
The leadership problem identified by Odinkalu touches on the broader issue of institutional presence. For a country navigating complex inflationary pressures, security operations in the North East and North West, and ongoing structural reforms, the physical presence of the presidency is often viewed as a signal of stability to both the public and international investors.
As of the time of this report, the Presidency has not issued an official response to Odinkalu’s assertions or provided a specific timeline for the return of the President and the Vice President to Abuja. The administration’s schedule of foreign engagements remains a point of scrutiny for political analysts monitoring the impact of these absences on national policy implementation.
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