When a country is on fire, does its leader get to take a vacation? That’s the question buzzing across Nigeria today after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu left Abuja for Europe on what the presidency has branded a 10-day “working vacation.”
According to his aides, the president will split time between France and the UK before returning later this month.
The official statement insists he’s “working,” but for millions of Nigerians who are battling inflation, fuel hikes, and insecurity, this looks less like leadership and more like an escape hatch. The optics couldn’t be worse: while the ordinary man is calculating how to buy garri without sugar, his president is boarding a jet to Europe.
What The Presidency Said
A statement released this morning reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today, September 4, to commence a working vacation in Europe, as part of his 2025 annual leave. The vacation will last 10 working days. He will split time between France and the UK before returning.”
Simple. Straightforward. Almost harmless. But Nigerians are not buying it.
Opposition Wastes No Time
Critics quickly pounced on the announcement. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar fired a sharp jab: “While Nigerians bleed, he dines under European chandeliers.”
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Meanwhile, Labour Party’s Peter Obi didn’t mince words either: “This isn’t a vacation—you’re treating the country like a collapsing company where the CEO sneaks off during crisis.”
Their reactions capture a public mood already simmering with anger.
A Pattern Or Just Coincidence?
This isn’t the first time Nigerian presidents have sparked outrage by leaving the country at tense moments. From Obasanjo’s foreign trips to Buhari’s infamous London “medical vacations,” Nigerians know the drill. The fear is simple: history is repeating itself, and governance is once again outsourced to chance.
The Perception Of Power
Tinubu’s defenders will argue that even presidents are human—that they need rest, retreat, and reflection. But here’s the thing: Nigerians aren’t angry that he’s leaving—they’re angry about what he’s leaving behind. For many, this trip is not about rest or work. It’s about tone-deaf leadership in a time of suffering.
And in a democracy, perception is power. Tinubu may return from Europe recharged. But the question is: will Nigerians still trust him to lead when he lands?
