The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to embark on another foreign trip, describing his frequent absence from Nigeria as insensitive to the country’s mounting challenges.
On Thursday, the Presidency announced that Tinubu had begun a 10-day vacation, which marks the start of his 2025 annual leave. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President will spend the break in France and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria.
The statement read: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today, September 4, to commence a working vacation in Europe, as part of his 2025 annual leave. The vacation will last 10 working days. President Tinubu will spend the period between France and the UK and then return to the country.”
This latest trip comes only a week after Tinubu returned from a two-week official visit to Japan and Brazil, raising concerns about the frequency of his travels.
In a post on his X account, Obi criticized Tinubu’s constant foreign engagements, arguing that the President appeared to be avoiding his responsibilities at home. Obi wrote: “From all indications, our President is not finding his home in Nigeria conducive for a long stay, and it should be concerning to us. 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 continued: “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. And one would wonder why so much of his two years in office has been spent on holidays or away from the very country he was elected to preside over.”
Obi further stressed that the country is facing severe crises that require urgent leadership, citing alarming hunger levels, insecurity, and poor living conditions. “Meanwhile, at least 79% of Nigerians have been reported to be facing food insecurity, that is over 180 million people facing hunger. 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,” he said.
He also recalled the wave of tragedies that had recently plagued the nation, including violent attacks in Katsina State and the boat mishap in Niger State that claimed the lives of over 60 women and children. Obi noted that instead of embarking on another trip abroad, Tinubu could have visited grieving families to show solidarity.
“Where is the compassion for Nigerian lives, Mr. President? How many more need to die for you to preside over the country? No holiday is more important than the Nigerian lives you swore to protect. At a time when Nigerians need leadership, empathy, and presence, a President should not choose foreign holidays,” Obi added.
He concluded by emphasizing that true leadership is about sacrifice and commitment to solving pressing national issues such as insecurity, healthcare, education, and poverty reduction.
What You Should Know
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has been one of the most vocal critics of President Tinubu’s leadership style.
His latest remarks underscore growing concerns over Tinubu’s frequent foreign travels, which many Nigerians perceive as neglect of domestic crises.
Obi’s criticisms reflect widespread frustration over insecurity, food shortages, and poor living standards, issues that continue to dominate public discourse in the country.
