The Digest:
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has publicly criticised President Bola Tinubu for his extensive foreign travel in January, alleging the President spent only eight days in Nigeria during the month. In a detailed post on social media platform X, Obi stated Tinubu was abroad for 23 days across two trips, returning briefly on January 17 before departing again on January 26. Obi contrasted this with what he described as worsening domestic crises, including surging insecurity with kidnappings and killings, nationwide strikes, school closures, and grid collapses. He questioned the urgency of the international engagements and accused the ruling APC of prioritising political rallies over governance.
Key Points:
- The criticism frames presidential foreign travel as a neglect of urgent domestic duties amidst multiple escalating national emergencies.
- It seeks to highlight a perceived disconnect between the activities of the political elite and the daily suffering of ordinary citizens.
- The statement catalyses public debate on leadership presence and prioritisation during a period of severe economic and security hardship.
- It represents a direct political challenge from a key opposition figure, attempting to shape the narrative around the administration's focus and effectiveness.
- The timing, at the start of the year, is used to set a tone of critique for the administration's annual performance and priorities.
Sources: Daily Trust, The Cable, Premium Times
