Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have berated President Bola Tinubu for embarking on 40th International Trip in 26 months.
Mr. Obi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, knocked the President for his frequent travels amid the deplorable state of the nation, expressing worry that the latest “itinerary is silent on the President’s return date to his visibly troubled nation.”
He said: “How can anyone explain that a President who came from Brazil recently and met with the President is returning to the same country, leaving the various degrees of challenges at home unresolved?”
Obi said it was worrisome that the President, who has not found it worthy to visit any of the troubled states, takes joy in travelling to foreign countries at the slightest invitation or excuse. Often departing several days even before the events he’s invited to.
He submitted that the nation’s insecurity situation, economic hardship, and human suffering have reached their peak, therefore, demands the full attention of the President at home.
“His travels should be more within our troubled states and communities, spending time on the ground, and taking decisive action to alleviate the people’s suffering rather than these overseas conferences that contribute little or no tangible value to our nation’s woes.
“And where the trip is necessary at all, it could be attended in just a few days rather than indulging in prolonged, unnecessary absences from a country that requires 24/7 attention. What our nation needs now is security of lives and properties, economic stability and ensuring that our people have food on their table. Our President’s planned trip of 12 days departing today, if necessary, should have been at most a 5-day trip as the event he was invited to in Japan commences on the 20th,” he added.
Obi said “though Nigerians know that our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, they want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment to solving them.”
Corroborating the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, the ADC described the trips as wasteful, in the absence of any tangible economic or diplomatic gains from the president’s previous travels.
The Party stated that since inauguration, President Tinubu has only visited 13 out of 36 States, but has visited more foreign countries during the same period.
Noting that Nigerians expect their President to be on ground to provide leadership, empathy, and direction in the face of the challenges bedeviling the nation.
