Peter Obi has criticized Tinubu’s planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil as poorly timed.
He urged the president to prioritize Nigeria’s economic and security crises over foreign travel.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, describing it as insensitive given Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Obi argued that the President’s frequent foreign travels demonstrate a lack of urgency in addressing the country’s pressing problems. Tinubu is scheduled to leave Abuja on Thursday, stopping over in Dubai before heading to Yokohama, Japan, for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) from August 20 to 22.
Obi questioned the need for the trip, noting that Tinubu had only recently visited Brazil and met its president. He suggested that the President should instead focus on touring crisis-hit states in Nigeria to witness citizens’ struggles firsthand.
He also recalled that during a previous foreign engagement, Tinubu spent a week in St. Lucia before attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria only participated as an observer.
Calling for a cutback on “unnecessary overseas engagements,” Obi urged Tinubu to shorten foreign trips when they are unavoidable and dedicate more time to domestic issues.
“What our nation needs now is the security of lives and property, economic stability, and ensuring that our people have food on their tables. Nigerians know our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, but they want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment,” Obi said.
He stressed that the President “must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation” and should adopt strict work and travel schedules that reflect the urgency of the crises confronting the country.
This Obi man. So, President no go travel officially?