‘Even military commanders leave battlefields to rest,’ Okupe defends Tinubu, Shettima’s foreign trips

A former presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has described as misleading the criticisms trailing President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima’s absence from the country.

The two leaders have come under criticism for embarking on foreign trips during one of the critical periods in its long history.

President Tinubu left the country for a two-week vacation in the United Kingdom on October 3.

He also made a brief visit to France last week.

Shettima on his part left Abuja for Sweden on a two-day visit on Wednesday.

Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, spoke with journalists in Lagos.

He said: “Presidents and chief executives globally do take time off to rest for a little while.

“Even in war situations, field commanders go off duty to cool off from war theatres.

READ ALSO: Tinubu, Shettima’s absence won’t create vacuum in government – Presidency

“The impression being given that there is no one in charge is false and preposterous. The President is head of government not government by himself.

“Whether the President is in Abuja, Kaura Namoda, Pankshin, Oguta, Ilesha, Yenagoa, London, or Paris, all instruments of command and control are accessible and available to him 24/7.”

The ex-presidential aide insisted that the opposition’s plot to feast on the matter has “exposed their ignorance of modern information management on contemporary governance.”

“In these last two weeks, the wheel of the administration has been in top gear. Promotions and new appointments are being made.

“Policies are being implemented to the letter. Obviously, there is no evidence of dereliction of duty or official irresponsibility.

“The truth is that elections are over and political gladiators should go back to the drawing board to restategise for 2027,” Okupe stated.

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