Obi Criticizes Tinubu’s Visit to St. Lucia, Citing Insecurity, Unpaid Teachers, and Leadership Disconnect

Peter Obi slams Tinubu’s Saint Lucia visit, says trip ignores Nigeria’s worsening crises.

Labour Party leader questions lack of results, urges more responsive and present leadership.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has once again condemned President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia, calling it poorly timed and disconnected from the prevailing realities of Nigeria. Obi’s latest comments, made on July 1, follow an earlier critique of the trip, which prompted a public rebuke from presidential aide Fredrick Nwabufo, who dismissed Obi as a “tragedy connoisseur.”

In a renewed statement, Obi reiterated his concerns, questioning the rationale and value of the President’s week-long visit, which began on June 29, amidst worsening national crises.

He noted that the absence of any signed bilateral agreements or developmental outcomes from the visit raises questions about its true purpose. “Having been in St. Lucia for the past four days, we have not seen any agreement being entered into or signed that would contribute to Nigeria’s development,” Obi stated.

The former governor of Anambra argued that the trip appears to be more focused on personal accolades, referencing the ceremonial honors Tinubu received during his visit.

Obi highlighted the dire situation back in Nigeria, pointing to unpaid teachers, students out of school, and a rising death toll due to insecurity. He referenced the recent killing of at least 37 people in Yobe State during a Boko Haram attack and ongoing protests by teachers in Kwara State and Abuja, who are demanding their long-overdue salaries.

“Our schoolchildren are still out of classrooms, teachers are unpaid and protesting while the President is receiving titles abroad,” Obi lamented. “In the time he has been away, 200 Nigerians have reportedly died from various crises.” He drew a stark comparison with Russia, stating that even a country at war is experiencing fewer civilian casualties than Nigeria, which is not officially in conflict.

Obi also questioned President Tinubu’s domestic engagement, alleging that aside from attending a wedding in Katsina and residing in Lagos, the President has not spent the night in any other Nigerian state on official duty since taking office. “A nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial,” Obi declared. “With children orphaned, communities razed, internally displaced persons (IDP) camps swelling, and hospitals underfunded, Nigeria needs its leadership to be actively present and responsive.”

President Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia has sparked mixed reactions across political circles and social media, especially given the recent surge in terror attacks and civil unrest. While the visit is officially described as a state engagement, critics, such as Obi, argue that it has not yielded any tangible economic or diplomatic gains. Moreover, the presidency has not publicly released details of any signed bilateral agreements or investments from the visit, fueling public scepticism.

This isn’t the first time Obi has clashed with the current administration over governance issues. He has consistently positioned himself as a voice of accountability, often challenging the Tinubu-led government on matters related to public spending, education, and security.