Peter Obi Slams Tinubu Over 12-Day Trip To Japan And Brazil Amid Nigeria’s Worsening Hardship

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized President Bola Tinubu over his planned 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil, describing it as insensitive given Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges.

In a statement posted Thursday on X, Obi argued that the President’s frequent foreign travels show indifference to the suffering of Nigerians. He noted that Tinubu is set to depart Abuja with a stopover in Dubai before attending the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, followed by a visit to Brazil.

Obi questioned why Tinubu must embark on another foreign trip so soon after meeting with Brazil’s president, urging him instead to visit crisis-hit states across Nigeria. He recalled that Tinubu spent a week in St. Lucia during an earlier foreign engagement before attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria only participated as an observer.

According to Obi, the President should cut down on unnecessary trips, shorten essential ones, and focus on seeing firsthand how citizens are coping.

“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.

He further cautioned Tinubu to “remember he is not a tourist but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation” and to adopt work and travel schedules that reflect the urgency of Nigeria’s crises.