While Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are busy kicking out French influence and reclaiming their sovereignty, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seems to be auditioning for a different role: Africa’s Most Frequent Flyer. And if Cameroon’s Paul Biya is the reigning champion of absentee leadership, Tinubu looks determined to snatch the crown.
Since his inauguration in May 2023, Tinubu has spent nearly 160 days abroad, with France as his preferred playground. His latest escape, a 10-day vacation in France and the UK came just six days after returning from a 15-day foreign engagement. At this rate, Nigerians might need to start sending postcards to their president.
And let’s not forget his first “annual leave” in October 2023 just four months into office. Apparently, under APC’s governance manual, four months equals one year. Who knew?
His frequent travels, often during national crises—have earned him the nickname “nomadic president.” His absence during tragedies like the Katsina mosque attacks and the Niger State boat disaster reflects a detachment from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. With:
- 135 million Nigerians plunged into poverty in just 18 months.
- 57 citizens die daily from violent attacks—seven more than Ukraine’s daily war casualties.
- Inflation is galloping, the naira is gasping for breath, and hospitals are running on fumes.
But instead of tackling these crises, Tinubu seems to be perfecting the art of presidential ghosting. One might wonder: is he simply allergic to Nigeria’s problems, or does he genuinely believe Parisian air is more conducive to leadership?
The APC claims Tinubu’s administration has neutralized over 9,000 terrorists, rescued 5,000+ hostages, and recovered ₦83 billion in stolen crude. Impressive numbers, until you realize that Amnesty International reports over 10,000 deaths from terrorism and banditry in just two years.
So either the terrorists are multiplying faster than they’re being neutralized, or someone’s cooking the books. Either way, the streets don’t feel safer, and the people don’t feel heard.
Paul Biya, Cameroon’s eternal president, has spent decades ruling from abroad, mostly in Switzerland and France. At 92, he’s more myth than man, surfacing occasionally to remind Cameroonians he still exists.
Tinubu, it seems, has taken notes. Frequent trips, minimal domestic engagement, and a growing reputation for absenteeism. Is this admiration? Imitation? Or a full-blown competition to see who can govern the least while spending the most?
While Tinubu courts France, the Sahel nations are cutting ties:
- Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have exited ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
- They’ve expelled French troops, nationalized resources, and quit the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
These countries are saying “no more” to neocolonial influence. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s president seems to be saying “oui, monsieur” to every French invitation.
Finally, if Tinubu’s goal is to outdo Biya in absenteeism, he’s off to a flying start, literally. But Nigerians didn’t vote for a tourist-in-chief. They voted for leadership, presence, and accountability. And unless something changes, history might remember Tinubu not for what he built, but for how often he left.