Last Monday, President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja after 18 days in Europe on a working visit and retreat.
Days earlier, the Presidency had reassured Nigerians that he was running state affairs remotely, insisting that distance posed no barrier.
“We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption. His absence remains temporary and in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks.
“He has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.
“The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership… His return to Abuja and the resumption of duties at Aso Villa will follow the conclusion of the Easter holiday,” the release read.
The statement followed public anxiety over the President’s whereabouts as killings flared in several states.
It fed into the time-tested remote work tradition of Nigerian Presidents dating back to the Yar’Adua years.
In my piece on May 12, 2024, I wrote that Nigerians have been traumatised by the familiar rhythm of long-distance relationships with their presidents.
When Tinubu landed on Monday night, the Villa community geared up for a week of hitting the ground running to “recover” some mileage.
Instead, the ensuing days saw the President functioning from his inner chambers, summoning his intelligence chiefs and issuing new marching orders.
Since his return coincided with Pope Francis’s demise, one would have thought he was mourning the Pope. But other than being fellow heads of state, there are no known ties between the two men.
It is safe to say the President, like most of his counterparts, holds His Holiness in the highest regard. That explained why Tinubu mourned the Pontiff through a personal statement.
He described the Pontiff as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
Tinubu said, “His passing, coming just after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians. Today, with a heavy heart, I join the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis—a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.
“His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end. In 2013, he stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten.
“He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home—this Earth—is a gift we must protect for future generations.”
The President regarded the Pope as an instrument of peace who deeply embodied Christ’s message of love for God and humanity.
“In a time of division, he built bridges between faiths and between the rich and the poor. He was a steadfast advocate for the developing world, consistently speaking against economic injustice and ceaselessly praying for peace and stability in troubled regions.
“His encyclicals were not only doctrinal and seminal but also timely and relevant. Through his pastoral letters, the Pope offered spiritual clarity and hope in an increasingly complex world. He charted a path of renewal for all humanity through his words and deeds,” he added.
At Easter, Tinubu had expressed joy that the Pontiff was recovering quickly from a bout of illness.
“I was happy to watch his appearance to deliver the traditional Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Alas, the Lord called him home a day after, making the world lose its most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change. May the good Lord, whom he served with all his might, receive him into His eternal bosom. As we mourn the late Pontiff, let us also celebrate his legacy,” said Tinubu.
On behalf of the Nigerian government and its people, the President extended condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community, and the Christian faithful.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis was buried yesterday before 250,000 mourners and millions more watching online. His passing has rekindled interest in papal succession, with that curiosity reflected in surging streaming data.
In the four days after the news broke, Edward Berger’s thriller Conclave, which dramatises the sealed-door vote that chooses a new pontiff, logged 6.9 million viewing minutes on Prime Video, a 283 per cent jump from 1.8 million minutes the day before the news.
Netflix’s 2019 drama The Two Popes, centred on Francis’ relationship with Benedict XVI, climbed even faster: viewership leapt 417 per cent, from 290,000 to 1.5 million minutes, pushing the film into Netflix’s global Top-10 catalogue for the first time since its release.
Media analytics firm Luminate attributed the surge to audiences “looking for a crash course in conclave politics” ahead of the real-life vote expected in Rome next month.
As Rome prepares for the Conclave, Nigerians hope their President will step out of his private chambers soon enough.
