Presidency replies Peter Obi, defends Tinubu’s Saint Lucia trip, says visit strategic, not leisure

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Nigerian Presidency has issued a robust response to criticism over President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia, insisting the trip is a historic diplomatic engagement designed to deepen Nigeria’s ties with the Caribbean and foster South-South cooperation—not a leisure excursion.

Peter Obi had condemned the trip as “ill-timed and insensitive,” questioning how the President could embark on such a visit while Nigeria faces severe insecurity, hunger, and natural disasters. Obi said, “I didn’t want to believe that anybody in the position of authority… would contemplate a leisure trip at this time” and urged the government to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians over political interests

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement stressed, “The visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations.” The statement highlighted that Saint Lucia, like many Caribbean nations, has a significant population of African ancestry, with historical migration from present-day Nigeria shaping its culture and society.

The Presidency outlined that the visit would begin with courtesy calls on both leaders and culminate in a special address to a joint session of Saint Lucia’s Senate and House of Assembly at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet, on Monday.

Onanuga stressed the strategic nature of the trip, stating, “Saint Lucia is the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states. The CARICOM states have a combined GDP of over $130 billion, a significant figure in South-South trade discourse.” He added, “In an era of global uncertainty, deepening cooperation between the Global South, particularly between continental Africa and the Caribbean, has become imperative.”

The Presidency also underscored the shared democratic values between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, noting, “Saint Lucia is a stable parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria, which has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.” During live coverage of Tinubu’s arrival, a local commentator described him as a “fighter for democracy,” citing his well-known pro-democracy record.

Highlighting the visit’s alignment with Nigeria’s foreign policy, the Presidency stated, “President Tinubu’s visit aligns with Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography. As the presidency stated, the visit supports the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which identifies the African diaspora as a key development partner.”

The statement further noted the significance of the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia and the broader Caribbean, referencing historical ties such as Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria, and Neville Skeete, an architect who contributed to the design of Nigeria’s Central Bank headquarters.

Addressing the criticism that the trip is ill-timed, Onanuga asserted, “Nigeria and the citizens of the Caribbean have strong people-to-people links… President Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College underscores our commitment to strengthening educational partnerships.” The presence of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps officials in the delegation, he said, “further demonstrates our dedication to fostering knowledge exchange and growth.”

The Presidency concluded by emphasizing the rarity and significance of the visit: “Since gaining independence in 1979, Saint Lucia has hosted fewer than 10 official state visits. The last visit by an African Head of State was by President Nelson Mandela in July 1998… Therefore, President Tinubu’s 2025 visit, 27 years later, is a historic diplomatic milestone.”

After his engagements in Saint Lucia, President Tinubu will proceed to Brazil for the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, further underlining the diplomatic and economic priorities of the trip.

Upon arrival at Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. local time, President Tinubu was accorded full military honours and received by the Governor-General of Saint Lucia, Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.