Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has criticized President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a lack of sensitivity to Nigeria’s worsening economic and security situation. His remarks follow the President’s decision to embark on yet another foreign trip while Nigerians grapple with severe hardship.
According to a statement from the Presidency, Tinubu is scheduled to leave Abuja on Thursday, August 15, for a tour that includes Japan and Brazil, with a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Analysts point out that with this new journey, Tinubu will have spent more than 200 of his 806 days in office outside the country.
In a statement shared on his verified X handle, titled “Again our President moves as the Nation bleeds”, Obi condemned the President’s pattern of extended international travel. He noted that Tinubu had only recently returned from Brazil, where he met with that country’s president, and questioned why he would make another trip there so soon, leaving Nigeria’s mounting crises unattended.
The trip itinerary shows that in Japan, Tinubu will participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. The schedule does not indicate when he will return to Nigeria. Obi stressed that this lack of urgency is troubling, given the country’s dire situation.
He pointed out that while Nigeria is plagued by insecurity, poverty, and economic decline, Tinubu has not visited troubled states at home but instead “takes joy in travelling to foreign countries at the slightest invitation or excuse, often departing several days before the events.”
Citing the President’s earlier trip to St. Lucia before the BRICS Summit, Obi noted that while Nigeria was merely invited as an observer—a role described by officials as “partner”—Tinubu still spent a full week abroad, whereas leaders of actual BRICS member states only arrived shortly before the summit.
Obi lamented that Nigeria is now ranked among the world’s most insecure nations, with one of the weakest economies and highest levels of hunger. He insisted that these realities demand Tinubu’s full attention at home, not extended stays overseas. If the Japan trip was unavoidable, Obi argued, it should not exceed five days, since the conference itself only runs from August 20 to 22, yet Tinubu planned a 12-day absence.
“What Nigeria needs now,” Obi said, “is a President who prioritizes security of lives and property, stabilizing the economy, and ensuring that citizens can put food on their tables.” He urged Tinubu to begin touring Nigerian states with the same energy he devotes to foreign travel, so he can directly witness people’s suffering and respond with concrete solutions.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved overnight, Obi emphasized that citizens expect to see “100% effort and tireless commitment” from their leader. He concluded by warning that Tinubu must recognize he is “not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” and therefore must maintain a disciplined travel schedule that reflects the urgency of Nigeria’s crises.
Kindly Share This!!!
Vanguard
0 Comments