Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as an “unwarranted fondness for foreign trips,” accusing him of neglecting the plight of Nigerians at home amid rising insecurity, hunger, and poverty.
Obi, in a statement on his X handle on Friday, lamented that the president has spent much of his two years in office abroad rather than confronting the worsening challenges within the country.
“From all indications, our President is not finding his home in Nigeria conducive for a long stay, and it should be concerning to us,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor pointed out that Tinubu departed for France barely six days after returning from a 15-day stay abroad. “Just yesterday, for the umpteenth time, Mr. President waved the nation goodbye again, barely 6 days after his return to Nigeria, after he spent 15 whole days for just a five-day engagement. He is now heading for about his 10th trip to France in two years, this time for his annual holiday. It does look like Mr. President is running away from Nigeria at every slight opportunity,” he wrote.
Obi said the timing of the trips shows insensitivity to Nigeria’s worsening living conditions, noting that over 180 million Nigerians, or 79 percent of the population, are facing food insecurity.
“Nigeria, just last month, was declared the worst country to give birth, and just weeks ago, the worst place to live, with the world’s worst life expectancy. We deserve a president with all hands on deck to solve these issues,” Obi stated.
He decried the president’s absence during recent tragedies, including the killing of over 50 people and the abduction of more than 60 others in Katsina State last month, as well as the boat mishap in Niger State that claimed the lives of 60 women and children.
“One would have expected that the president would at least visit one of these states when he arrived 6 days ago, or at least visit Niger State where just yesterday, 60 of our citizens, women and young children, died in a boat mishap with many more still missing. What would it have taken the president to take a less than 30-minute trip to Niger State from Abuja in his jet?” Obi queried.
He added: “Mr. President could have at least visited the grieving families in Niger before jetting off again. Where is the compassion for Nigerian lives, Mr. President? How many more need to die for you to preside over the country?”
Obi stressed that “no holiday is more important than the Nigerian lives you swore to protect,” urging the president to prioritise governance over leisure.
“At a time when Nigerians need leadership, empathy, and presence, a President should not choose foreign holidays. True leadership is about sacrifice and the ability to improve healthcare, invest in quality education, pull millions out of poverty, and guarantee the security of every citizen,” he declared.
