Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on official trips to Brazil and Japan at a time he believes Nigeria’s internal challenges demand urgent attention.
Obi, in a strongly worded statement, expressed outrage that the president chose to leave the country while pressing issues at home remain unresolved. He argued that the leader of a nation should prioritise fixing domestic crises over what he sees as excessive foreign travel.
“You are not a tourist,” Obi declared, accusing Tinubu of neglecting the pressing economic and social difficulties confronting millions of Nigerians. He stressed that the country’s leadership should be focused on rebuilding institutions, improving security, and addressing the deepening cost-of-living crisis rather than “parading across the globe.”
The criticism comes as President Tinubu departs Nigeria for diplomatic engagements in Brazil and Japan, a move the presidency has defended as essential for strengthening bilateral ties and economic cooperation. However, Obi’s remarks have ignited public debate over whether such trips are necessary or ill-timed given the nation’s current condition.
With the country grappling with inflation, insecurity, and infrastructural decay, Obi’s rebuke has further fuelled discussions on the priorities of Nigeria’s leadership in a period of mounting hardship.