Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer in 2023 Election in Nigeria, has faulted President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent foreign trips, calling them “disturbing” and lacking “common sense.”
Obi’s concerns stem from the timing of these trips, as Nigeria faces numerous domestic challenges.
President Tinubu left for the United Kingdom on October 2, 2024, for a two-week working leave and later went to France for another engagement. Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima traveled to Sweden for bilateral talks.
The Presidency defended the trips, stating that the absence of both leaders doesn’t create a leadership vacuum, as they remain engaged with national affairs while away.
However, Peter Obi reacting on his X handle on Friday countered that the President’s prolonged absence exceeds the promised 14 days, and his presence is urgently needed to address the nation’s problems.
Peter Obi also questioned the fiscal responsibility of sending Vice President Shettima to Sweden when President Tinubu could have easily attended the meeting on his way back from France, saving time and resources. This decision, Obi argues, doesn’t align with the expected leadership priorities of alleviating citizens’ suffering and managing scarce national resources.
