Lagos, Oct. 10, 2024 (TheGavel) — Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson, has stated that Nigerians criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s trip to the United Kingdom for a two-week holiday are misinformed.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos, Okupe addressed the backlash against the President’s decision to vacation abroad instead of remaining in Nigeria.
The former Director-General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign remarked, “I have seen numerous uninformed criticisms regarding the President’s holiday. Personally, I believe that during times of national crisis, a President needs to step back from officials, friends, and associates to reflect on the past 17 months and develop a new direction for his administration.”
He added that this separation would help avoid undue influence from political allies while he considers reshaping his cabinet. “Staying anywhere in Nigeria would not provide the peaceful and serene environment necessary to achieve this objective,” he stated.
Okupe expressed confidence that President Tinubu’s return after this retreat would bring positive changes and much-needed relief to the Nigerian people.
NAN notes that Tinubu left Abuja on October 2 for the UK, marking his first leave since taking office in May 2023, despite having made several foreign trips in that time. A statement from Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, indicated that the trip would serve as a working vacation for the President to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.
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