Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming trip to Saint Lucia.
Obi believes that the timing is inappropriate and insensitive given the severe economic struggles and security issues facing Nigeria.
Tinubu left Nigeria on Saturday, June 28, for his trip to Saint Lucia, from where he will proceed to Brazil for the summit of BRICS countries.
In a post on social media platform X, Obi expressed his disbelief at the president’s travel plans, raising concerns about the government’s priorities, while many Nigerians are struggling to make ends meet.
Obi highlighted the troubling state of the country, saying that “what I have seen in the last two years has shocked me. While people are suffering, the focus seems to be on politics and the interests of a few, leaving many in need.”
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He pointed out that violence has taken a heavy toll in Nigeria, with many more lives lost to crime and conflict than in some areas that are officially at war.
The former presidential candidate underscored the hunger and desperation faced by many Nigerians, questioning how the president can justify a leisure trip during such troubling times.
Obi mentioned that he was particularly surprised to learn about the trip, especially after Tinubu had just taken time off in Lagos.
The trip to Saint Lucia includes both official duties and personal vacation time, as mentioned by the country’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
Obi reflected on this decision, initially refusing to believe it could be true, stressing that a leader should not be going on holiday when the nation is in crisis.
He also criticized Tinubu for not visiting places affected by recent disasters, like Minna in Niger State, where flooding had tragic consequences.
“This is a president going for leisure when he couldn’t visit a place where over two hundred lives were lost,” he added.
Obi described a recent trip Tinubu made to Makurdi, Benue State, which he felt was more of a political event than a genuine show of support for the victims of violence, noting that children were seen lining up to greet him without him visiting the actual location of the incidents.
He contrasted Nigeria’s struggling cities with Saint Lucia, pointing out that the size and population of places like Makurdi and Minna are much larger than the small island, making the president’s vacation seem even more out of touch.
In closing, Obi called for a leadership style that prioritizes empathy and genuine concern for the people.
He stated that now is not the time for leisure, especially for someone in -charge like the president.
The former Anambra State governor urged Tinubu to shift focus to the needs of ordinary Nigerians, rather than pursuing personal interests or future political plans.
