Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu over his recent trip to Saint Lucia, describing the visit as "ill-timed and insensitive" given Nigeria’s ongoing economic hardship, insecurity, and natural disasters. Obi expressed shock and dismay that the President would embark on what he characterized as a leisure trip while millions of Nigerians continue to suffer from hunger, violence, and devastation.
The Presidency had announced that President Tinubu would visit Saint Lucia on a state visit aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with Caribbean nations and promoting South-South cooperation. Following the Caribbean visit, Tinubu was scheduled to attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil. However, Obi questioned the timing and priority of such travels amid Nigeria’s crises.
In a statement titled “No, Mr President, This is Not the Time for Holidaying,” Obi lamented the worsening security situation, noting that more Nigerians have lost their lives to criminality in the past two years than in a country officially at war. He emphasized that Nigeria ranks among the most insecure countries globally, with widespread hunger and uncertainty about where the next meal will come from for many citizens.
Obi also expressed disbelief that the President would leave the country shortly after a previous holiday in Lagos, underscoring what he sees as a troubling pattern of poor governance and misplaced priorities focused on political elites rather than addressing the urgent needs of ordinary Nigerians.
The former presidential candidate called on the President to reconsider such trips and focus on tackling the pressing challenges facing the nation, including insecurity, economic hardship, and disaster response. Obi’s critique highlights growing frustration among some political figures and citizens over the government’s handling of Nigeria’s multifaceted crises during a period demanding urgent and focused leadership.