Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his repeated holidays abroad while Nigeria continues to face worsening insecurity, hunger, and economic hardship.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, Obi expressed concern that the president seems increasingly reluctant to remain in Nigeria, preferring frequent trips abroad, particularly to France.
He pointed out that Tinubu embarked on another holiday just six days after returning from a 15-day trip officially described as a five-day engagement. According to Obi, this marks the president’s 10th visit to France within his two years in office.
“From all indications, our President is not finding his home in Nigeria conducive for a long stay, and it should be concerning to us,” Obi wrote.
“It does look like Mr. President is running away from Nigeria at every slight opportunity. And one would wonder why so much of his two years in office has been spent on holidays or away from the very country he was elected to preside over.”
Obi linked the president’s constant absence to his failure to address urgent issues, including food insecurity, poverty, collapsing healthcare, and persistent violence. He cited recent tragedies such as the killing of more than 50 worshippers in a Katsina mosque, mass abductions by bandits, and a boat mishap in Niger State that left at least 60 people dead.
The former Anambra governor argued that Tinubu should have shown empathy by personally visiting the victims’ families in Niger State instead of leaving the country again.
“What would it have taken the president to take a less than 30-minute trip to Niger State from Abuja in his jet? Mr. President could have at least visited the grieving families before jetting off again,” Obi questioned.
He urged Tinubu to prioritise Nigerian lives and show true leadership by staying present during crises.
“No holiday is more important than the Nigerian lives you swore to protect. At a time when Nigerians need leadership, empathy, and presence, a President should not choose foreign holidays,” he stressed.
Obi concluded by insisting that true leadership requires sacrifice, strong investment in healthcare and education, poverty reduction, and the restoration of security across the country, reiterating his campaign message that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
