The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected claims suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is absent from the affairs of government, insisting that the President remains firmly in charge and actively engaged in leading the country.
The ruling party was responding to recent remarks attributed to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who raised concerns about President Tinubu’s visibility at a time Nigeria continues to grapple with economic pressures and security challenges.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 13, the APC’s Lagos State spokesman, Seye Oladejo, dismissed the allegations as misleading, stressing that the President has not abandoned his constitutional responsibilities.
According to Oladejo, effective leadership should not be judged by frequent media appearances or constant public visibility but by the depth and impact of decisions taken behind the scenes.
“President Tinubu is not missing. He remains fully engaged in the serious and demanding task of governance,” Oladejo said. “His responsibilities go far beyond optics and include policy coordination, security management, diplomatic relations and economic restructuring.”
He added that governance is ultimately measured by outcomes rather than presence on television screens.
“It is about the quality of policies implemented and the results delivered in the national interest, not how often a leader is seen in public,” he stated.
Oladejo further noted that President Tinubu continues to work strictly within the mandate given to him by Nigerians, with his activities guided by national priorities rather than political commentary or public speculation.
“The President’s schedule is shaped by the needs of the country, not by the expectations of critics,” he said.
The APC spokesman highlighted that the administration remains active across critical sectors such as economic reforms, national security coordination and international engagement, all aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economy and global standing.
He also called on opposition figures to contribute more constructively to national discourse by offering practical solutions instead of what he described as unnecessary speculation that could heighten public anxiety.
“Political leaders should focus on substance, not appearances,” Oladejo warned.
The party’s response followed comments by Peter Obi, who questioned the President’s whereabouts amid what he described as worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity and a perceived lack of direct presidential communication.
In a post shared on his verified 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Obi claimed that President Tinubu had spent 196 days outside Nigeria in 2025, alleging that the President had been absent from the country for more days than he had spent at home during the same period. He also alleged that Nigerians had not heard directly from the President since December 2025.
However, records show that President Tinubu left Lagos on December 28 for Europe as part of his end-of-year break and in preparation for official international engagements. He subsequently travelled to the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The President arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and is participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which began on Monday—an engagement the APC says underscores his continued involvement in international diplomacy and global sustainability initiatives.
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According to the ruling party, President Tinubu’s presence at the high-level forum reflects his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage, even as his administration continues to address pressing domestic challenges at home.
