The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu for spending over 30% of his time abroad since taking office, urging him to focus on addressing Nigeria’s domestic challenges in 2025.
Obi made the comments during a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja, highlighting that as of December 29, 2024, Tinubu had spent approximately 180 days of his presidency overseas, with over 30 recorded trips to various countries.
“It’s evident that the president has spent a significant amount of time outside the country. I urge him to dedicate at least 20% of 2025 to visiting each of Nigeria’s 36 states,” Obi said, stressing the need for the president to directly engage with the country’s pressing economic and security issues.
Our correspondent reported that in 2024, Tinubu visited 14 countries, including multiple trips to London, Saudi Arabia, and China.
Notably, during one of these trips in August, he held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Obi questioned the allocation of resources for these frequent travels, which reportedly cost the government N2.3 billion.
The former governor of Anambra State also urged Tinubu to visit Nigeria’s national hospitals and infrastructure projects to better understand the country’s needs. “It’s time to visit our IDP camps and military formations, directly interacting with Nigerians to reassure them of your commitment to restoring peace,” Obi stated.
Obi also stressed the importance of combating corruption and ensuring that future government spending aligns with productive investments that benefit the nation. “We need leadership that prioritizes accountability and transparency,” Obi added.
