…Questions President’s Three-Week European Leave
ABUJA — The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has asked the Presidency to address concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health and provide details of his ongoing three-week leave in Europe.
The party also urged the President to reconsider any plan to seek re-election in 2027 and instead support Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for the presidency.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the APM said Nigerians deserved clear and official information about the President’s health, itinerary, entourage and official engagements while abroad.
The party said the President’s extended leave outside the country at a time Nigeria was facing economic hardship and security challenges had heightened public concerns.
It also referred to alleged links between Tinubu and documents reportedly connected to a drug-related case before United States authorities, saying questions surrounding the matter remained unresolved.
According to the APM, while illness and human frailty were part of the human condition, the Presidency should not hesitate to reassure Nigerians about the President’s wellbeing and capacity to discharge his constitutional responsibilities.
“Nothing is wrong in the Presidency clearing the air on the state of health of Mr President as obtainable in other climes,” the statement said.
The party, however, criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, describing the performance of the government over the past three years as disappointing.
It alleged that policies including the removal of the petrol subsidy and proposed tax reforms had worsened economic hardship for millions of Nigerians and placed additional pressure on households and businesses.
The APM also raised concerns over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, putting the country’s indebtedness at about N159.28 trillion, while questioning the impact of the borrowings on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
On security, the party accused the administration of failing to adequately address the country’s security challenges, alleging that thousands of Nigerians had been killed or abducted since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The APM urged the President to use his current leave to reflect on the performance of his administration and reconsider his reported ambition to seek re-election in 2027.
It argued that the demands of the presidency, particularly at a time of significant economic and security challenges, required a younger and energetic leader capable of responding effectively to contemporary governance demands.
The party said Nigeria needed a president who could connect with the realities facing citizens and provide what it described as energetic and effective leadership.
The APM subsequently called on Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support its presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde.
According to the party, Makinde has demonstrated leadership capacity through his administration of Oyo State, particularly in the areas of economic development and governance.
The APM claimed that Oyo State had recorded significant economic growth under Makinde and argued that his experience could be replicated at the national level.
The party said Nigerians deserved leadership that would prioritise economic prosperity, security and effective governance, while again urging the Presidency to provide clarification on concerns surrounding the President’s health and extended absence from the country.
