“Mr. President, You’re Not a Tourist” — PO Slams Tinubu’s 12-Day Foreign Trip as Nigeria Faces Crisis

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Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to embark on a 12-day trip to Japan and Brazil amid what he described as “the deplorable state of the nation in all ramifications.”

In a strongly worded statement, Obi accused the President of “displaying insensitivity” by prioritising frequent foreign travel over visiting Nigeria’s troubled states.

Tinubu’s latest itinerary shows he will depart Abuja today for Dubai before heading to Japan to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) from August 20 to 22 in Yokohama. He will then proceed to Brazil. The schedule does not indicate when he will return.

Obi argued that, given the country’s severe insecurity, economic hardship, and widespread hunger, such prolonged absences are unjustifiable.

“Nigeria today demands competent leadership with capacity and compassion… Our President must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” Obi stated.

He also criticised Tinubu’s habit of arriving at foreign events days ahead of schedule, citing his recent week-long trip to St. Lucia before the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria was only an observer.

According to Obi, the Japan-Brazil trip, if necessary at all, should last no more than five days since the main conference begins on August 20. He urged the President to tour Nigeria’s crisis-hit states “with the same enthusiasm he shows for jetting out of the country every month.”

Obi concluded: “Though Nigerians know our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, they want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment. A New Nigeria is possible.”