A former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has come to President Bola Tinubu’s defense, saying that Nigerians criticizing the President’s two-week holiday trip to the United Kingdom are uninformed.
Okupe expressed this view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, amidst criticisms of the President traveling abroad for vacation instead of staying in the country.
“I have read many uninformed criticisms of the President’s holiday trip abroad,” Okupe said.
He believes that President Tinubu has intentionally separated himself from officials, friends, and associates to reflect on the last 17 months and plan a new direction for his administration.
He stated, “At the same time, it is to carefully avoid undue interference from political associates, in his thought process to rejig his cabinet. Staying anywhere in Nigeria definitely will not afford him such a peaceful and serene atmosphere to achieve his objective.”
Okupe also expressed optimism that the President’s return after “this retreat” would bring good tidings for Nigerians and much-needed comfort and succour for the masses.
President Tinubu departed Abuja on October 2 for the United Kingdom to begin his two-week vacation, which is part of his yearly leave.
This trip is his first vacation since assuming office in May 2023, although he has embarked on several foreign trips since then.
According to the Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.
Some of these reforms include the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas buses, the anti-corruption war, a ministerial performance bond, and the implementation of a new national minimum wage.