Obi Criticises Tinubu, Shettima’s Foreign Trips Amid Domestic Crises, Says Actions Lack Common Sense

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the recent foreign trips of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, questioning their timing as Nigeria faces significant domestic challenges.

Obi expressed his concern on Friday in a post on social media, stating that the absence of both the President and Vice President from the country during a period of severe hardship and economic distress was troubling.

He argued that their trips do not reflect fiscal responsibility or common sense, given the magnitude of the problems Nigerians are grappling with.

President Tinubu departed Nigeria on October 2, 2024, for a two-week working leave in the United Kingdom. Afterward, on October 11, he traveled to France for what was described as “another important engagement.” Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima left Abuja on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Sweden for bilateral talks on behalf of the country.

While the Presidency had reassured Nigerians that the absence of both leaders would not create a vacuum in the nation’s leadership, Obi challenged this notion, stating that their simultaneous absence undermines the nation’s capacity to address its pressing issues.

“With both the President and Vice President absent from the Villa, it’s worrying for a country with numerous domestic problems,” Obi said. “One would have expected the President to return earlier than planned, given the urgency of the situation in the country.”

Obi also criticized the decision to send Shettima to Sweden while Tinubu remained in France, noting that Tinubu could have easily handled the Scandinavian trip himself.

He pointed out that Paris is just a short two-hour flight from Stockholm, which would have saved time and valuable resources. Instead, Shettima had to travel over nine hours from Abuja, a decision Obi said lacked fiscal responsibility and leadership.

“This kind of decision does not reflect the leadership that prioritizes the well-being of its people, especially when the nation is dealing with hunger, poverty, and economic difficulties,” Obi added.

This is the second time both Tinubu and Shettima have been concurrently out of the country since taking office 17 months ago. Their previous absence occurred between late April and early May 2024, when Tinubu was attending various international summits while Shettima travelled to the US before cutting his trip short.

Obi’s remarks add to the growing criticism surrounding the government’s handling of Nigeria’s economic challenges, as many citizens continue to struggle with the effects of recent policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and inflation.