Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for embarking on another foreign trip despite Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship, insecurity, and other pressing national challenges.
In a statement on Thursday, Obi described the President as “virtually indifferent” to the plight of citizens, accusing him of displaying “insensitivity” by prioritising overseas engagements over urgent domestic issues.
President Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja today for a two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil, with a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In Japan, he will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. The presidential itinerary does not specify when he will return.
Obi questioned the necessity and length of the 12-day trip, noting that the Japanese event begins six days after Tinubu’s departure. “If necessary, this trip should have been at most a five-day trip,” he said.
The former Anambra governor also recalled the President’s recent one-week state visit to Saint Lucia ahead of the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria participated only as an observer. He criticised what he called Tinubu’s habit of “jetting out of the country every month,” often spending several days abroad before scheduled events.
“Our President, who has not found it worthy to visit any of our troubled states, takes joy in travelling to foreign countries at the slightest invitation or excuse,” Obi said, warning that Nigeria now ranks among the most insecure nations, most fragile economies, and hungriest countries in the world.
He urged Tinubu to devote more time to touring Nigerian states, meeting affected communities, and taking decisive steps to address insecurity, economic instability, and food shortages.
“Mr. President must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” Obi said. “Nigerians want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment to solving our problems.”
Concluding his statement, Obi reiterated his belief that “a new Nigeria is possible” if the country’s leadership demonstrates competence, capacity, and compassion.
