Tinubu’s Visit To Saint Lucia Not A Vacation, Presidency Replies Peter Obi

The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia, describing it as a significant diplomatic and cultural engagement aimed at deepening ties with the Caribbean nation and the wider CARICOM bloc.

In a statement on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed criticisms of the visit as “misguided, mischievous, and uninformed,” particularly in response to comments by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Obi had questioned the purpose of the trip on X (formerly Twitter), expressing concern that the President could undertake a “leisure trip” shortly after what he called a holiday in Lagos.

In response, the Presidency clarified that the visit is part of a broader effort to rekindle Nigeria’s ancestral, diplomatic, and economic ties with Saint Lucia, whose citizens share deep cultural and historical connections with Nigeria, especially through 19th-century migration.

Onanuga emphasized that Saint Lucia is not only the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) but also a gateway to the 15-member CARICOM bloc, which holds a combined GDP of over $130 billion — making the visit strategically important for South-South cooperation and Nigeria’s foreign policy focus on Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography (the Four D’s).

The statement also recalled the legacy of Saint Lucian-born jurist, Sir Darnley Alexander, who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979, and contributions by other Saint Lucians like Neville Skeete, designer of the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters.

It added that Tinubu’s visit aligns with the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which recognizes the diaspora as a key development partner. Nigerian culture, especially Afrobeats and Nollywood, continues to make significant inroads across the Caribbean.

The Presidency stressed that Saint Lucians were excited to receive Tinubu, with Afrobeats dominating the island’s popular Gros Islet Street Party the night before his arrival — a reflection of Nigeria’s growing cultural influence.

President Tinubu is expected to address a joint session of Saint Lucia’s bi-cameral Parliament at the Sandals Grande Conference Hall and visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to promote educational ties. His delegation also includes members of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps providing professional services in the region.

The statement concluded by describing the visit as a historic milestone — the first by a Nigerian leader to Saint Lucia and the first by any African leader since Nelson Mandela’s visit in 1998 — urging Nigerians to recognize its importance rather than mischaracterize it as a vacation.