Former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for spending much of January abroad.

Obi, in a post on his X handle on Sunday morning, noted that while leaders in other countries focus on domestic governance at the start of the year, Nigeria’s president has prioritised foreign engagements over pressing national issues.

He lamented that while the nation continues to grapple with challenges including insecurity, food shortages, workers’ strike, the President, Obi alleged, seemed unperturbed.

“This first month serves as a critical measure of the challenges that lie ahead, and it is painfully evident that the situation in the country continues to worsen. Insecurity has surged alarmingly across the nation. In just January, we saw reports of several killings, hundreds of kidnappings and abductions that include children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers with the abductors demanding millions. Farmers remain unable to return to their farms plagued by ongoing insecurity which exacerbates food shortages and rural poverty.” Obi wrote.

He further drew attention to the impact of school closures, citing insecurity and teachers’ strikes as key reasons many children cannot attend classes, and condemned the nation’s poor electricity supply.

“Education stands as a cornerstone of national development, yet countless children remain out of school and those in school cannot attend because of insecurity or teachers’ strikes. This is particularly tragic in Abuja, the seat of government, where schools remain shuttered. This is the same Abuja where billions were squandered on renovating a conference centre for the president and Bus Terminals. One must question whether our leaders genuinely appreciate the vital role of education. Our nation with the worst access to electricity without an abysmal supply have witnessed two grid collapses in just January.”

Obi also questioned the necessity of Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips, noting that the President spent 23 days abroad in January across two trips, returning only briefly to Nigeria in between.

“While leaders in other nations prioritise domestic governance in January, Nigeria’s president prioritises international engagements over pressing national issues. This month, he spent 23 days abroad across two trips—beginning the year overseas and returning on the 17th, and departing less than 10 days on the 26th to Türkiye, where he remains as of January 31. What urgent matters continuously warrant his absence from the nation? When he does return, it often appears to be merely to welcome defectors into the APC before he jets off again.”

Obi, also a former governor of Anambra State, further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing its attention on rallies and other political activities rather than addressing the plights of Nigerians.

“The collective impact of these events paints a grim portrait of a nation grappling simultaneously with insecurity, economic distress, failing infrastructure, and profound social upheaval. Instead of confronting these urgent challenges head-on in pursuit of solutions, much of the political class remains engrossed in power calculations and the next election cycle. The ruling APC, in particular, seems more concerned with rallies and welcoming defectors than with visiting failing institutions or addressing the daily struggles of the Nigerian people.”