Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Director General of the Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, has come to the defence of President Bola Tinubu regarding his recent two-week work leave in the United Kingdom, dismissing the backlash from some Nigerians as misguided.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, Okupe stated that critics of President Tinubu’s trip are misinformed about the intentions behind it.
He argued that the President chose to travel to the UK to avoid political distractions while reshaping his cabinet.
“I’ve come across many misguided critiques of the president’s holiday trip.
I believe the President intentionally chose to distance himself from officials, friends, and political associates to reflect on the past 17 months of his administration and strategise for the future.”
He said that the trip provides an opportunity for the President to contemplate potential cabinet changes without interference from political allies.
“At the same time, it is to carefully avoid undue interference from political associates, in his thought process to rejig his cabinet.
“Staying anywhere in Nigeria definitely will not afford him such a peaceful and serene atmosphere to achieve his objective,” he said.
Okupe said he was optimistic that upon returning from this period of reflection, President Tinubu would bring about positive changes that would benefit the Nigerian people, leading to greater comfort and relief.
News About Nigeria previously reported that President Tinubu departed Abuja for the UK on October 2.
A statement from Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, confirmed that the trip would serve as both a working vacation and a retreat to evaluate the administration’s economic reforms.
