Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has raised concerns over the continued absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from Nigeria.
Obi stated that leaving the country without top leadership at a time of serious domestic challenges is troubling.
“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,” Obi wrote on X on Friday.
He pointed out that although President Tinubu initially announced a 14-day trip, he has yet to return despite the expiration of this period.
“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,” Obi said.
The former Governor of Anambra State further criticised the government’s travel arrangements, noting that President Tinubu was in Paris, just a short flight from Stockholm, Sweden, yet opted not to attend a two-day event there. Instead, Vice President Shettima had to fly from Abuja—a much longer and costlier journey.
He questioned the efficiency of such decisions, especially when the nation is grappling with economic hardship.
“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.
“Again, since the President is reportedly in Paris, France, which is just about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, Sweden, one wonders why he did not just attend the 2-day working visit to Sweden. 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,” he stated.
Peter Obi stressed the need for a leadership that focuses on practical governance and ensures the wise use of the country’s limited resources to ease the suffering of citizens.
“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,” he said.