Human rights activist and lawyer Prof. Chidi Odinkalu criticises President Bola Tinubu’s extended absence from Nigeria, saying it resembles the “japa” trend where Nigerians travel abroad for menial work. Odinkalu makes the remarks on Channels Television, noting Tinubu is away in Europe and that the situation is raising concerns about how the country is being run.
Odinkalu discusses the constitutional framework for leadership continuity after a president’s absence, referencing the 21-day limit and how the Interpretation Act affects counting of days. He argues that the practical effect of the 21 days points to a timeframe closer to four weeks when weekends and public holidays are excluded. He also cites comparative examples of other heads of state, including Paul Biya’s travel pattern between Cameroon and Switzerland, to question the expectation of continuous governance.
Across the two reports, both outlets present the same core claims: Odinkalu portrays Nigeria as effectively “ungoverned” during the president’s absence and frames the criticism in terms of responsibility and governance priorities. Neither outlet offers an official response from the presidency in the provided text.
