Former Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung has publicly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent departure to Europe for a 10-day working vacation, dubbing him a “vacation president” born from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) “technical glitches.” Dalung’s remarks spotlight ongoing dissatisfaction with the electoral process and governance in Nigeria.
The Presidency announced Tinubu’s annual leave starting September 4, 2025, with plans for the president to spend the period between France and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria.
Responding on social media platform X, Dalung condemned the 2023 election outcome, claiming it resulted in a leader prioritizing leisure amid worsening insecurity across the country. “This is the tragic outcome of INEC’s so-called technical glitches a conspiracy that has produced a vacation president whose idea of a social contract with Nigerians is sheer entitlement,” he wrote.
Dalung further lamented Nigeria’s state under Tinubu’s leadership: “At a time of escalating insecurity, Tinubu chooses leisure in Europe while the nation drifts. Nigeria is on autopilot, navigating turbulence with clueless, sleeping pilots. Lord, have mercy on this country.”
The criticism reflects broader public debates about governance quality, electoral integrity, and leadership priorities in Nigeria as the nation grapples with complex security and socio-economic challenges.