Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s two-week vacation in Europe, stating that a leader should not be on holiday while the nation faces severe economic and security challenges.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Thursday, September 4, 2025, for a 10-working-day “working vacation” in France and the United Kingdom, according to a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The trip comes just days after the President returned from a two-week official visit to Japan and Brazil.
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In a statement posted on his X handle yesterday, Obi expressed his dismay over what he described as the President’s frequent foreign travels.
“From all indications, our President is not finding his home in Nigeria conducive for a long stay, and it should be concerning to us,” Obi wrote. He pointed out that this is allegedly Tinubu’s tenth trip to France in two years.
Obi’s criticism focused on the timing of the trip, highlighting the pressing issues facing Nigeria.
He cited reports of widespread food insecurity affecting over 180 million Nigerians and recent global rankings that declared Nigeria the worst country to live in and give birth.
The former presidential candidate also raised security concerns, noting that while the President was on a foreign trip last month, over 50 people were killed and 60 others were kidnapped in a Katsina State mosque and village attack.
He also referenced a recent boat mishap in Niger State that claimed the lives of 60 citizens, including women and children.
“What would it have taken the president to take a less than 30-minute trip to Niger State from Abuja in his jet? Mr. President could have at least visited the grieving families in Niger before jetting off again,” Obi questioned.
“Where is the compassion for Nigerian lives, Mr President? How many more need to die for you to preside over the country? No holiday is more important than the Nigerian lives you swore to protect.”
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Obi stressed that true leadership requires sacrifice and presence, urging the President to prioritise improving healthcare, education, and security, and to focus on lifting Nigerians out of poverty.
