Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, with a stopover in Dubai, describing it as insensitive given the nation’s dire state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, announced the two-nation trip on Thursday.
Since taking office in 2023, the president has embarked on multiple visits to countries including the UK and France. Obi argued that this latest journey reflects a troubling pattern.
Obi wrote in a post on X, “Amid the deplorable state of our nation in all ramifications, we have a virtually indifferent President who has continued to display insensitivity to our situation.”
“How can anyone explain that a President who came from Brazil recently and met with the President is returning to the same country, leaving the various degrees of challenges at home unresolved?”
Obi noted that the itinerary, which includes attending the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, does not indicate a return date.
He added, “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, often departing several days before the events he’s invited to.”
Highlighting worsening insecurity, economic fragility, and hunger, Obi said “What our nation needs now is the security of lives and property, economic stability, and ensuring that our people have food on their table.”
He argued that the planned trip, if truly necessary, could be shortened to five days and urged Tinubu to spend more time touring Nigerian states to directly engage with citizens.
The politician said, “Mr President must, as a matter of urgency, commence tours of our states with the same enthusiasm he shows for jetting out of the country every month. These visits will enable him to see, listen and learn more about what Nigerians are going through.”
“Though Nigerians know our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, they want to see 100 percent effort and tireless commitment to solving them.”
Concluding, the former Anambra Governor reminded Tinubu, “Most importantly, our President must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation, so he must have consciousness, strict work schedules and a strict travelling schedule to show that he has a troubled country to quickly return to.”
