Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and a prominent Nigerian political figure, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, August 13, by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for the trip, with a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to Japan.
In Japan, the President is expected to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. The official itinerary, however, does not specify his return date to Nigeria.
Reacting to the announcement, Obi criticized what he described as the President’s indifference to the country’s pressing challenges. “Amid the deplorable state of our nation in all aspects, we have a virtually indifferent President who continues to display insensitivity to the suffering of Nigerians,” he said.
Obi questioned the rationale behind the President’s overseas travels. “How can anyone explain that a President who recently returned from Brazil is now going back to the same country, leaving the myriad problems at home unresolved?” he asked.
He also expressed concern over the extended duration of such trips. “The planned 12-day trip could, if necessary, have been completed in just five days, as the event in Japan only begins on the 20th. Often, the President departs several days before the events he is invited to, showing a preference for foreign engagements over attending to domestic crises,” Obi noted.
Highlighting the contrast between international travels and domestic engagement, Obi said: “Our President has not deemed it necessary to visit any of our states in crisis. Instead, he takes pleasure in traveling abroad at the slightest invitation, sometimes attending events where Nigeria’s role is merely symbolic,” referring to Tinubu’s previous trips, including a one-week state visit to St. Lucia and participation in the BRICS Summit as an observer.
“The reality in Nigeria today is dire. Insecurity, economic hardship, and human suffering have reached unprecedented levels. We are counted among the most insecure nations, the most fragile economies, and the hungriest countries in the world. This situation demands the President’s full attention, particularly within our troubled states and communities, where decisive action is needed to alleviate suffering,” Obi added.
He emphasized the urgent need for leadership that prioritizes the welfare of Nigerians: “What our nation requires now is security for lives and property, economic stability, and ensuring that citizens have food on their tables. Leadership must be competent, compassionate, and present on the ground to address these issues effectively.”
Obi concluded with a call for immediate, consistent domestic engagement: “The President must commence tours of Nigerian states with the same enthusiasm he shows for international travel. These visits will enable him to see, listen, and understand the challenges faced by Nigerians.
“While no leader can solve all problems overnight, Nigerians expect tireless commitment and visible effort. The President must recognize that he is not a tourist but the Chief Executive of a nation in crisis, and his schedule should reflect that responsibility.”