Peter Obi slams Tinubu over foreign trips amid domestic crises

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s frequent foreign travels, describing them as a display of “insensitivity” at a time when Nigeria was grappling with severe economic hardship, insecurity, and social instability.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, Obi faulted the President’s latest itinerary, which includes a 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, with a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tinubu is expected to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, though the Presidency has not indicated his exact return date.

“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 queried.

The former Anambra State governor said the situation was “deeply worrisome,” stressing that the President “has not found it worthy to visit any of our troubled states” but “takes joy in travelling to foreign countries at the slightest invitation or excuse.” He alleged that Tinubu often departs “several days even before the events he’s invited to,” citing a recent week-long visit to St. Lucia before attending the BRICS Summit in Russia — an event Nigeria attended merely as an observer.

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Obi warned that Nigeria’s mounting crises demand the “full attention” of the President, adding that the country is now “counted among the most insecure nations, the most fragile economies, and the hungriest countries in the world.”

“What our nation needs now is security of lives and properties, economic stability and ensuring that our people have food on their table,” he stated. “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.”

The former presidential hopeful urged Tinubu to limit his foreign trips to essential engagements, attended “in just a few days rather than indulging in prolonged, unnecessary absences from a country that requires 24/7 attention.”

Obi concluded by reminding the President that he is “not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” insisting that “consciousness, strict work schedules and a strict travelling schedule” are necessary to demonstrate commitment to solving Nigeria’s problems.

“A New Nigeria is POssible,” Obi wrote, signing off with his campaign slogan.

Source: RipplesNigeria | Read Full Story…