The Presidency has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi of pretending to be unaware of President Bola Tinubu’s whereabouts.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the remark in reaction to comment on Tinubu’s absence at the 81 United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York.
Onanuga disclosed that two other important African presidents, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi were also absent at UNGA and there was no uproar in their countries.
Posting on X, Onanuga wrote: “Two other significant African leaders were not in New York for the UNGA: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Ramaphosa booked himself off public engagements. Johannesburg and Pretoria didn’t show any strong reaction to Ramaphosa not attending the UNGA.
“Egypt did not explode, and Sisi did not go to New York. The Nigerian President said he would take his yearly break and asked his capable and trustworthy Vice President to attend to official duties in his place.
“Yet Peter Obi acts as though he doesn’t know where President Tinubu is and asks the same silly question that his supporters are asking on X.”
Onanuga said Tinubu will return to Nigeria to celebrate the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary and to honor MKO Abiola.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had represented Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York.
Tinubu is scheduled to return to Nigeria from France on September 29, 2026, from Paris.
His return was initially planned for the weekend, but the presidency confirmed a last-minute adjustment.
Tinubu is expected to spend up to a week in Lagos before heading back to Abuja.
