Unrelenting Nigerians Demand Accountability After Tinubu Vanishes for Days Following International Summit in Brazil

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sparked national debate by calling on President Bola Tinubu to disclose his whereabouts during the unexplained five-day period following the conclusion of the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The President, who had embarked on a two-nation diplomatic visit to St. Lucia and Brazil on June 28, returned quietly to Nigeria in the early hours of Sunday, July 13, drawing public curiosity and political backlash over the prolonged silence regarding his movements.

After concluding official engagements at the BRICS summit held from July 6 to 7, President Tinubu failed to make any public appearances or offer updates on his activities. With no statement issued by the Presidency, concerns quickly spread among citizens, political observers, and opposition parties. The lack of communication created a vacuum, which the ADC has now filled with pointed criticism and a strong demand for transparency.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the ADC, issued a detailed statement on Sunday expressing the party’s disappointment at what they described as an "irresponsible silence" from the country's top leader. According to Abdullahi, all other world leaders who attended the BRICS summit had returned to their home countries and resumed governance duties, offering post-summit briefings and updates to their citizens. Tinubu’s delayed return and the absence of any official explanation, he argued, are unacceptable in a democracy.

Without directly accusing the President of misconduct, the ADC posed critical questions about the leadership's responsibility to the public. Abdullahi stated that Nigerians deserve to know where their President was, what engagements he took part in during those days, and why there was no communication from the State House.

The statement read, “It is a matter of national concern when the leader of over 200 million people goes missing from public radar for nearly a week, particularly after attending a high-level summit where critical global issues were discussed. This is not merely a matter of protocol; it is about trust, accountability, and governance.”

Nigerians, still grappling with inflation, insecurity, and economic instability, had expected a full presidential debrief following the international summit. Observers believed such a meeting would offer the President an opportunity to explain what Nigeria stood to gain from the BRICS engagement and how those benefits would translate into domestic progress. Instead, the days that followed were marked by silence.

Aides at the Presidency have yet to provide any justification for the President’s delayed return, nor have they released any itinerary that might clarify his post-summit activities. As speculation continues to swirl online and in political circles, opposition figures have begun framing the silence as indicative of a larger problem in governance and transparency under the current administration.

Abdullahi’s message highlighted the importance of public communication from elected officials. “This country is not on autopilot,” he emphasized. “The people have a right to know where their President is, what he is doing, and how national interests are being served while he is abroad.”

Meanwhile, the lack of clarity has created fertile ground for conspiracy theories and public frustration. On social media, Nigerians have expressed a mixture of anger and bewilderment over the perceived indifference of the government. Hashtags like #WhereIsTinubu and #MissingPresident have trended in the past 48 hours, as users shared memes and commentary on what they consider a breach of public trust.

Policy analysts argue that the incident underscores the necessity of instituting mechanisms that ensure regular and transparent communication between the Presidency and the public. Political analyst Chika Obasi noted, “This kind of situation erodes public confidence. Regardless of what may have happened behind the scenes, the absence of a narrative from the government creates more damage than whatever truth they are avoiding.”

As Nigerians await an official briefing or at least a statement from President Tinubu himself, the ADC insists that the issue must not be swept under the carpet. The party has positioned itself as a voice for accountability, demanding that government officials respect the principles of democratic leadership and public service.

For now, the questions remain unanswered. The President is back in Nigeria, but until he faces the public and addresses the missing five days, the controversy around his silence is unlikely to fade. The incident has become a critical test for the Tinubu administration’s commitment to openness and the democratic obligation of keeping the electorate informed.