Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has fiercely criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he labeled as misplaced priorities, condemning the President’s ongoing eight-day visit to Saint Lucia, where he received a traditional title while Nigeria faces deepening insecurity, mass protests, and a deteriorating education system.
In a statement released Tuesday, Obi accused Tinubu of neglecting a nation in crisis in favor of personal accolades abroad, calling it a “symptom of a failed state.”
“It is alarming that we now live in a country of titles and honours without any passion for the people’s plight,” Obi declared. “While the Presidency basks in the euphoria of titles in Saint Lucia, our people are being killed at home.”
Rising Death Toll and Public Unrest Ignored
Obi pointed to several alarming incidents that have occurred since Tinubu departed for the Caribbean island, including a deadly Boko Haram attack in Yobe State on Monday that reportedly killed at least 37 people. He also referenced ongoing demonstrations in Kwara State over rising unemployment and insecurity, as well as protests by teachers in Abuja demanding long-overdue salaries.
“Since the President left for Saint Lucia country just one-sixth the size of Lagos with barely 1% of its population over 200 Nigerians have died in crisis-related incidents,” Obi lamented. “Families are fleeing their homes, children are out of school, teachers are protesting yet the President is receiving personal titles on a Caribbean island.”
Empty Diplomacy?
Presidential aides have defended Tinubu’s trip as part of broader efforts to foster cultural diplomacy and economic ties, with the trip reportedly linked to the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled for July 6–7. However, Obi dismissed this defense, pointing out the absence of any concrete bilateral agreements or development-related outcomes from the trip.
“Having been in Saint Lucia for four days now, we have not seen any agreements signed or progress announced. This visit appears to be about personal recognition, not national development,” he stated.
Obi also noted that prominent BRICS leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are skipping the summit due to urgent domestic issues — a contrast he believes Nigerian leadership should emulate.
A President Absent from Crisis Zones
Highlighting what he views as Tinubu’s consistent detachment from the suffering of Nigerians, Obi criticized the President’s lack of presence in crisis-hit regions across the country.
“Other than attending a wedding in Katsina, Mr. President has never spent a night in any Nigerian state outside Lagos for an official purpose. He has never visited Taraba, Niger, or Plateau states despite the violence plaguing those areas,” Obi said.
“Leadership must be present. A nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial.”
Call for a Refocus on Core Governance
Calling on the Nigerian leadership to return to the basics, Obi urged a renewed focus on the security, education, and welfare of Nigerians particularly the youth.
“Our children should be in school. Our people, especially our young population, must be lifted out of poverty. We must now prioritize the safety and welfare of Nigerians and vigorously pursue national development over personal prestige.”
As discontent grows across the country, Obi’s comments have added fuel to the national debate over Tinubu’s leadership style and the government’s response to widespread hardship.
