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The main opposition leader and 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has again criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as apparent indifference and insensitivity to the myriad of challenges facing the country.
His remarks came as the President prepared to travel to Japan, bringing the total number of days he has spent outside the country to over 200 out of his 806 days in office. Obi said the frequency of the trips was worrisome given the urgent problems Nigeria faces.
Writing on his X handle yesterday in a statement titled, ‘Again our President moves as the nation bleeds amid the deplorable state of our nation in all ramifications,’ he said Nigeria has a virtually indifferent President who has continued to display insensitivity to the country’s situation.
“How can anyone explain that a President who recently returned from Brazil, and even met with its President, is now going back to the same country, leaving the various challenges at home unresolved?”
He noted that the President’s latest itinerary shows he departed Abuja yesterday, for a two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil, with a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to Japan.
According to Obi, President Tinubu was scheduled to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, but the itinerary did not indicate his return date to what he called ‘a visibly troubled nation.’
“The situation we find ourselves in is deeply worrisome. 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 for which he’s invited.
“In his last trip, for instance, he spent one week on a state visit to St. Lucia before attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria was only invited as an observer, though the role was dressed up as ‘partner.’ The actual member-country leaders only arrived a day or two before the event.”
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Obi lamented that Nigeria’s insecurity, economic hardship, and human suffering have reached their peak.
“We are now counted among the most insecure nations, the most fragile economies and the hungriest countries in the world. This dire reality demands the full attention of Mr. President. His travels should focus more on our troubled states and communities, spending time on the ground, taking decisive action to alleviate suffering, rather than on overseas conferences that contribute little or no tangible value to our nation’s woes.
“Where trips are necessary, they should be limited to just a few days rather than prolonged, unnecessary absence from a country that requires 24/7 attention.”
Obi argued that what Nigeria needs now is security of lives and property, economic stability, and access to affordable food.
“The President’s planned 12-day trip should have been at most a five-day trip, since the event in Japan begins on August 20.
“Nigeria today demands competent leadership with the capacity and compassion to start addressing our problems with the presence and sacrifice required. Mr. President must urgently commence tours of our states with the same enthusiasm he shows for travelling abroad every month.
“These visits will enable him to see, listen and learn more about what Nigerians are going through. Nigerians know our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, but they want to see 100 percent effort and tireless commitment to solving them.
“Most importantly, our President must know that he is not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation. He must have the consciousness, disciplined work schedules and strict travel limits to show that he has a troubled country to quickly return to.”
