2027: Group slams Atiku for criticising Tinubu’s three-week Europe vacation

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement 2027 has tackled former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing vacation in Europe.

The group described Atiku’s criticism as an attempt to turn the President’s routine annual leave into a political controversy, insisting that Tinubu’s temporary absence from the country did not constitute a leadership vacuum.

Online reports that Atiku had on Sunday criticised Tinubu for embarking on a three-week vacation amid economic hardship and insecurity in the country.

Although the former Vice President acknowledged that Nigeria was not facing a constitutional vacuum, he said the country was experiencing what he described as a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”

Atiku stated this in a post on his verified X account, questioning the timing of the President’s vacation against the backdrop of the challenges confronting Nigerians.

Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for Europe to begin his three-week annual leave, with London, United Kingdom, as his first destination.

The President’s departure was announced in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Tinubu would return to the country after the vacation to join the “hectic campaign” for the 2027 general election.

Reacting to Atiku’s remarks in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Sunday Asuku, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the group urged the former Vice President to concentrate on presenting his political programme to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement described Atiku as a “serial presidential contestant without direction,” arguing that, after several attempts to occupy the presidency since 1993, he should tell Nigerians what he intends to do differently if elected.

It said, “After contesting for the presidency repeatedly since 1993, Atiku should be telling Nigerians what he intends to do differently, rather than spending his time attacking President Tinubu.

“Presidents and world leaders go on vacation. A vacation does not mean a country has been abandoned. Nigeria has functioning institutions and officials responsible for ensuring that government continues to run.”

The group also accused Atiku of inconsistency over the petrol subsidy policy, recalling that he campaigned in the 2023 presidential election on a promise to remove the subsidy but was now advocating its restoration.

According to the movement, the change in position could amount to an attempt to exploit the hardship being experienced by Nigerians for political advantage.

“In 2023, he told Nigerians he would remove fuel subsidy. Today, he is talking about bringing it back. Nigerians deserve to know whether this is a genuine policy position or simply an attempt to deceive people into believing that he suddenly sympathises with them,” the statement said.

The group reminded Atiku that the Independent National Electoral Commission had commenced preparations for the 2027 elections, urging him to take his campaign to Nigerians and explain his plans for tackling the economy, insecurity, unemployment and other national challenges.

It said, “INEC has rolled out the timetable. Atiku should go out and campaign and tell Nigerians what he has for them. Smearing the name of President Tinubu because he has gone on vacation will not work.”

The movement urged Nigerians to assess Tinubu based on his policies and performance rather than political rhetoric.