Peter Obi slams Tinubu over Japan, Brazil visit

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his fresh planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, describing it as insensitive to the country’s worsening situation.

In a statement on Thursday via X, Obi said the President’s frequent foreign travels show indifference to Nigeria’s economic hardship, insecurity, and other pressing challenges.

Tinubu will depart Abuja on Thursday, with a stopover in Dubai before proceeding to Yokohama, Japan, to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) from August 20 to 22.

However, Obi questioned the rationale behind the trip, noting that Tinubu had recently visited Brazil and met with its president, and should instead prioritise visiting crisis-hit states in Nigeria.

He recalled that during a recent foreign engagement, Tinubu spent a week in St. Lucia before attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria participated only as an observer.

Obi urged the President to reduce unnecessary overseas engagements and, where necessary, make them shorter. He said Tinubu should embark on nationwide tours to see firsthand the plight of citizens.

“What our nation needs now is the security of lives and property, economic stability, and ensuring that our people have food on their tables. Nigerians know our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, but they want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment,” Obi said.

Obi added that the President “must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” and should adopt strict work and travel schedules that reflect the urgency of the country’s crises.