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Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the 2023 elections, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for what he described as an excessive focus on foreign trips. Citing official records, Obi noted that Tinubu had been abroad for more than 30% of his time in office, totaling around 180 days out of 580 as of late December 2024. The 30-plus trips, he argued, raised questions about the administration’s commitment to addressing urgent national issues.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, January 2, Peter Obi appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prioritize national concerns in the upcoming year.
He specifically recommended that Tinubu dedicate at least one-fifth of 2025 to touring the 36 states, underlining the need for closer engagement with the Nigerian people and their needs.
“Mr President, out of the approximately 580 days (as of December 29, 2024) you have been in office, it is reported that you have spent over 30%, or around 180 days, on more than 30 publicly recorded overseas trips. My appeal is that you dedicate at least 20% of 2025, roughly 72 days, to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each.”
Highlighting the necessity of direct involvement in governance, Peter Obi called on President Tinubu to personally inspect Nigeria’s infrastructure by visiting national hospitals for medical checkups and traveling on the country’s roads to assess their poor condition. Obi shared a personal story of how a similar initiative with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Anambra State had resulted in immediate and tangible improvements to the region’s roads.
“Consider, for example, that your next medical examination be conducted at one of our National Hospitals or Regional Federal Medical Centres,” he said. “Endeavour to travel by road to observe the condition of most highways. You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar to Uyo or Benin to Warri.”
Read also: Travel By Road, Use Local Hospitals – Peter Obi Challenges Tinubu
Peter Obi called on President Tinubu to engage directly with key sectors of Nigerian society by visiting tertiary institutions, military formations, and IDP camps. He stressed that such visits would provide a clearer picture of the issues plaguing these institutions and communities.
Speaking on the plight of displaced Nigerians, Obi urged Tinubu to personally deliver hope to IDP camp residents, reminding them that their return home was imminent. “The existence of so many IDP camps in a non-war country like Nigeria is deeply alarming,” he added.
He urged the President to prioritize combating corruption, ensuring transparency in public procurement, and tying future borrowing to regenerative investments. “All future borrowing must be tied to regenerative investments and visible, productive assets that benefit the nation,” Obi added.
Highlighting the importance of direct communication, Obi insisted that Nigerians need to hear from President Tinubu himself through regular updates. “A quarterly update on what he is doing to improve the situation in Nigeria is crucial,” he said.
Obi’s remarks came against the backdrop of reports that the Tinubu administration spent ₦2.3 billion on foreign trips and related expenses within six months of 2024, according to data from GovSpend. Tinubu has visited 16 countries since assuming office, including multiple trips to the UK, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Obi concluded by reiterating the need for selfless and exemplary leadership to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges in 2025.
