October 18, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent foreign trips have sparked criticism from Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general elections.
Obi expressed concerns that these trips, particularly when Nigeria is facing domestic challenges, don’t align with common sense.
Tinubu departed for the UK on October 2, 2024, for a two-week working leave and later headed to France for another engagement. Meanwhile, Shettima visited Sweden for bilateral talks, representing Nigeria.
The Presidency defended the trips, stating that Tinubu and Shettima remain fully engaged with national affairs despite their absence. However, Obi countered this justification, emphasizing that the leaders’ presence is crucial during these challenging times.
As a former Anambra State Governor, Obi wrote on his understanding about the importance of leadership availability, especially when citizens need guidance and support.
He took to X to express his concerns, questioning the timing and necessity of the trips.
He wrote, “While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absent from the Villa, there is no vacancy in the Presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems.
The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days. The 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country. One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours.
“The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration’s policies is unimaginable and we need his urgent attention to pilot the nation out of this present situation.”
Obi added, “He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over 2 hours. This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time.
“Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about 4 times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event.
“It would take about 4 times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm. This does not represent the kind of fiscal responsibility and common sense that is expected of leaders whose people are facing severe hunger and poverty.
“This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation’s scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people.”
