Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, has accused President Bola Tinubu of prioritising foreign travels over addressing Nigeria’s pressing domestic challenges.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the former governor of Anambra state described January as a troubling month that exposed the worsening state of the country.
Obi said insecurity intensified across Nigeria during the month, citing reports of killings as well as hundreds of kidnappings and abductions, with victims’ families forced to pay millions of naira in ransom.
He added that many farmers remain unable to return to their farms due to persistent violence, a situation he said is contributing to food shortages and rising rural poverty.
The former presidential candidate also raised concerns about the state of education, noting that many children are currently out of school, while those enrolled are often unable to attend due to insecurity and prolonged teachers’ strikes.
He described the situation in Abuja as particularly worrying, saying schools in the federal capital remain closed despite its status as the seat of government.
Obi criticised what he described as misplaced priorities, referencing public funds spent on projects such as the renovation of a conference centre and the construction of bus terminals.
He also faulted the country’s electricity sector, recalling that Nigeria experienced two national grid collapses in January.
Obi further criticised Tinubu’s travel schedule, saying the president spent a significant part of the month outside the country while other world leaders focused on domestic governance.
According to him, Tinubu spent 23 days abroad across two trips, beginning the year overseas, returning on January 17, and leaving again less than 10 days later for Türkiye, where he was still as of January 31.
Obi questioned the necessity of the frequent trips, adding that when the president returns to the country, it is often to welcome politicians defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the combined impact of insecurity, economic hardship, failing infrastructure, and social challenges presents a grim picture of the country.
The LP chieftain also accused the political class, particularly the ruling APC, of focusing on power struggles and election planning instead of governance.
According to him, rather than addressing urgent national issues, political leaders appear more concerned with rallies and receiving defectors than engaging with struggling institutions and the daily realities facing Nigerians.
