Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections has stated that President Bola Tinubu has spent 180 days abroad, out of the 580 days since he resumed office.
Obi while speaking at a media chat on Thursday in Abuja, therefore challenged Tinubu to dedicate at least 20 percent of 2025, roughly 72 days to visit each of the 36 states and spending two days in each state.
The former Anambra State governor, said that such visits will afford Tinubu the opportunity to better understand the dire economic and security situations across the country.
He also called on the president to visit some of the federal hospitals to access their suitability or otherwise, to conduct his next medical examination if for instance, he decides against seeking medical treatment overseas as is the norm.
“Mr. President, out of the approximately 580 days (as at December 29, 2024) that you have been in office, it is reported that you have spent over 30 percent or around 180 days, on more than 30 publicly recorded overseas trips.
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“My appeal is that you dedicate at least 20 percent of 2025, roughly 72 days, to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each.
“As President, such visits would give you the opportunity to better understand the dire economic and security situations across the country.
“Furthermore, it is time for you to visit our national hospitals. Consider, for example, that your next medical examination be conducted at one of our national hospitals or regional federal medical centres, such as the FMC in Sokoto or Birnin Kebbi or Calabar or Umuahia or Akure, among others.
“Endeavour to travel by road to observe the condition of most highways. You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100km, or from Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State,” he said.
Obi recalled taking former President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway when he was the governor of Anambra State and that the journey prompted Obasanjo to immediately approve the reconstruction of parts of the road by the Anambra State Government, with subsequent reimbursement by the federal government.
He also urged President Tinubu to make both impromptu and planned visits to the nation’s tertiary institutions, to familiarise himself with the available infrastructure, facilities and amenities.
He said: “As commander-in-chief, visit our military formations and security agencies, especially during their field operations, and provide them with morale-boosting assurances and support for operational efficiency. Reiterate that they and their families will always be taken care of.
“Mr. President, many Nigerians are refugees and exiles in their own country. Visit various IDP camps and assure these Nigerians that they will soon return to their communities and that you are working hard to restore peace and normalcy to the country. Nigeria is not a war-torn nation. The proliferation of IDP camps is a troubling sign.”
He charged President Tinubu to pay attention to combating corruption, adding that while addressing past corrupt matters, he must ensure proper investigation and recoveries related to missing funds or their sources.
“The focus should be on eliminating current and future official malfeasance through increased transparency and accountability in public procurement and contract award processes, as well as thorough monitoring of execution to ensure that limited resources are efficiently utilized and applied productively.
“All future borrowing must be tied to regenerative investments and visible, productive assets that benefit the nation.
“This will ensure both productivity and the ability to service and amortize such loans, rather than continuing the current practice of accumulating massive debts with no tangible returns, which places undue strain on future development revenue.
“Nigerians need to hear directly from President Tinubu, not through his proxies and that a quarterly update on what he is doing to improve the situation in Nigeria is crucial,” Obi added.
