Nigeria's Former Vice President, Peter Obi, Criticizes Current President Tinubu for Neglecting Domestic Issues While Pushing for Tourism Promotion
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has voiced his criticism of President Bola Tinubu's planned foreign trips to Brazil and Japan. In a statement titled, 'Again our President moves as the Nation bleeds,' Obi expressed his concern over Tinubu's frequent international travels, which he views as demonstrating insensitivity and indifference to Nigeria’s escalating domestic crises.
Obi's statement comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with high levels of insecurity, economic hardship, and widespread hunger. The Labour Party candidate emphasizes the need for 100% effort and tireless commitment to solving these problems, arguing that Tinubu should prioritize addressing these internal issues over attending overseas conferences and foreign visits.
According to Obi, Nigeria was merely invited as an observer to the BRICS Summit, despite the role being dressed up as "partner." He highlights the irony and frustration of Tinubu traveling back to countries like Brazil, which he recently visited, while leaving major socio-economic and security challenges unresolved at home.
Obi contends that the President’s presence is urgently needed within Nigeria’s troubled states to take direct and decisive action to alleviate citizens’ suffering. He suggests that the duration of the foreign trips could be significantly reduced, and urges the President to focus on resolving the challenges plaguing the country.
Other political parties have echoed Obi’s concerns, noting that Tinubu has spent a significant portion of his presidency abroad—about 25% of his time in office—and has visited more foreign countries than Nigerian states. This raises doubts about his commitment to domestic governance amidst the country’s pressing challenges.
President Tinubu is scheduled to leave Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for official visits to Japan and Brazil, with a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The itinerary does not specify President Tinubu's return date to Nigeria.
In the statement, Obi calls for competent leadership with capacity and compassion to deal with the problems facing Nigeria. He recommends that the President should visit states within Nigeria to better understand the issues facing the people. Obi views the trips as a sign of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians on the part of Tinubu.
Leaders of actual member countries who attended the BRICS Summit only arrived a day or two for the event. Obi sees these planned trips by President Tinubu as unnecessary and frequent, as many challenges remain unresolved at home. He ends his statement with "A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO."
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