Obi Tells Tinubu: ‘You Are Not A Tourist’

Former presidential labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. look Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, calling it insensitive in light of Nigeria’s escalating crises.

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Obi argued that amidst alarming levels of insecurity, economic hardship, and hunger, the President should prioritise visiting troubled regions within Nigeria, rather than “jetting out of the country at the slightest invitation or excuse.”

“How can anyone justify a President who recently returned from Brazil now revisiting the same country, while leaving pressing challenges at home unresolved?” Obi questioned.

According to the itinerary released by the Presidency, Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja on August 14th, with a stopover in Dubai, before proceeding to Yokohama, Japan.

There, he will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) from August 20th to 22nd, after which he will travel to Brazil. The return date remains undisclosed.

Obi specifically criticised the President’s extended foreign stays, citing the recent one-week visit to St. Lucia prior to attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria participated only as an observer, as an example.

He asserted that if the Japan trip is truly necessary, it should be limited to a maximum of five days.

“What our nation urgently requires is security, economic stability, and ensuring that our people have food on their tables,” Obi stated.

“The President must remember he is not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a nation facing significant challenges.”

He implored Tinubu to embark on nationwide tours to witness firsthand the hardships Nigerians are enduring, emphasising that citizens “expect 100% effort and tireless commitment” from their leader.