Presidency Accuses Peter Obi of Feigning Ignorance on Tinubu's Whereabouts
Presidency's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused Peter Obi of pretending to be unaware of President Bola Tinubu's whereabouts, reacting to Obi's comment on Tinubu's absence at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Onanuga said Tinubu would take his yearly break and entrusted Vice President Kashim Shettima to attend official duties, noting that South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also missed UNGA without protest in their countries.
The accusation comes as Tinubu is scheduled to return to Nigeria from Paris on September 29, 2026, after a last-minute schedule shift from the originally planned weekend. He intends to spend up to a week in Lagos to mark the nation's 66th Independence Anniversary and honor MKO Abiola before proceeding to Abuja. VP Shettima had represented Tinubu at the UNGA session.
This public spat underscores the deepening rivalry between the Presidency and the opposition as independence celebrations approach. With transparency about presidential movements becoming a talking point, consider what level of accountability you expect from leaders regarding their official engagements and personal time.