Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for what he perceives as neglect of the nation during a tumultuous time. Obi pointed out that the President left Nigeria over two weeks ago for what he termed a “working leave” in the UK and recently announced a continuation of his trip to France. This has left many Nigerians baffled, especially given the serious challenges facing the country, including recent fire disasters and political unrest in states like Edo and Rivers. The public is grappling with significant hardship, which many attribute to the President’s mismanagement of the economy.

Obi expressed concern that while citizens are struggling to secure basic necessities, the President has spent nearly three weeks abroad each month, utilizing a newly acquired jet that cost around $200 million—a purchase made without the approval of the National Assembly and amidst public outcry. He particularly criticized the decision to send Vice President Kashim Shettima to Sweden instead of attending himself, highlighting the short distance from Paris to Stockholm. He argued that it makes little sense for the Vice President to undertake such a long journey (over 3,000 nautical miles) when the President could have easily included the visit in his itinerary.

Obi emphasized that both leaders’ absence from the country is troubling, particularly given the myriad of pressing domestic issues. He stressed that the President’s absence sends a troubling message to a populace in desperate need of leadership and solutions. He urged Tinubu to return promptly, noting the urgent need for his attention to address the severe hardships resulting from government policies. Obi underscored that true leadership should involve making decisions that prioritize the welfare of the citizens and efficiently manage national resources, particularly during such challenging times.