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By Lawrence Agbo
Gbadebo Rhodes-Viviour, a former Labour Party governorship candidate for Lagos State and now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticised President Bola Tinubu for prioritising a state visit to the United Kingdom amid pressing domestic challenges.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Rhodes-Viviour said the president’s travels offered “little or no value” to Nigerians struggling with high fuel prices and other economic hardships.
“The President has spent a significant amount of time travelling outside the country while the people are experiencing extreme hardship. That is unprecedented,” he said.
“For him, these trips may be beneficial, but for the average Nigerian, I don’t see the value.”
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President Tinubu is in the UK on a state visit, accompanied by the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, and other top officials. They are guests of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, with the visit scheduled at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19.
The presidency says the trip aims to strengthen bilateral relations and explore avenues for collaboration.
Rhodes-Viviour further criticised the government’s focus on foreign relations while national security and citizens’ welfare face significant challenges, citing recent attacks in Borno State.
“It seems we need a foreign power to show interest before our government acts on security or shows empathy,” he said, highlighting frustration over what he called a lack of vision for protecting Nigerian citizens.
The visit marks the first by a Nigerian president to the UK in 37 years, underscoring historical ties between the two countries, but opposition voices like Rhodes-Viviour argue that domestic priorities should come first.
