By John Alechenu, Abuja – August 14, 2025
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “insensitivity” to the plight of Nigerians, accusing him of prioritising foreign trips over addressing the country’s worsening economic and security challenges.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle titled “Again, our President moves as the nation bleeds”, Obi expressed concern that Tinubu’s latest 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented hardship.
According to a Presidency statement, the trip—which begins today—will see the President make a stopover in Dubai before proceeding to Yokohama, Japan for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) scheduled for August 20–22. After Japan, Tinubu is expected to visit Brazil.
Analysts note that with this new journey, the President will have spent over 200 of his 806 days in office travelling abroad.
Obi questioned why Tinubu, who recently returned from Brazil after meeting with its president, is travelling again, while domestic crises remain unresolved.
“Our President has not visited any of our troubled states but is quick to travel abroad at the slightest invitation,” Obi said. “Nigerians need a leader who spends time on the ground addressing insecurity, economic instability, and food shortages—not extended overseas conferences that offer little tangible benefit.”
The former Anambra State governor argued that any necessary international engagement should be concise, suggesting that the current trip could have been completed in five days instead of nearly two weeks.
He urged Tinubu to embark on nationwide tours to meet citizens directly, assess their struggles, and implement urgent solutions.
“Mr President must remember that he is not a tourist. Nigerians expect 100% effort and commitment to solving our challenges. The nation needs leadership with capacity, compassion, and presence,” Obi concluded.
Background
Nigeria currently faces rising insecurity, severe food shortages, and economic instability.
The President’s travel schedule has sparked debates about governance priorities.
Readers’ Reactions 📢
Some Nigerians on social media have echoed Obi’s concerns, urging the President to “stay home and fix the country.” Others argue that foreign trips can bring diplomatic and economic benefits if managed effectively.
Tags: #PeterObi #BolaTinubu #NigeriaPolitics #ForeignTrips #TICAD9 #AbujaNews
