Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for spending over 30% of his time abroad during his first 580 days in office.
Obi, speaking at a media chat in Abuja on Thursday, pointed out that the president had made more than 30 recorded overseas trips, which amounted to roughly 180 days spent abroad.
Obi, who has long been a critic of the current administration, called on President Tinubu to dedicate more time to visiting Nigeria’s 36 states in 2025, saying that each state should receive at least two days of presidential attention.
He argued that this would provide the president with a better understanding of the nation’s economic and security challenges, while also improving his connection with the people.
“Mr. President, as you approach the new year, I implore you to use at least 20% of 2025—approximately 72 days—to visit each of Nigeria’s states, engaging with citizens and seeing firsthand the issues they face,” Obi said.
He also suggested that the president visit national hospitals to personally assess the condition of healthcare facilities, which, according to Obi, are in dire need of improvement.
Furthermore, Obi recommended that Tinubu travel by road to observe the state of Nigeria’s infrastructure, citing the poor condition of many highways.
He recalled his own experience as Governor of Anambra State, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited a federal highway and subsequently approved its reconstruction after seeing its deteriorating state.
The former governor also emphasized the need for Tinubu to visit military formations and security agencies to boost morale and provide support for operational efficiency.
He also urged the president to visit internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, emphasizing that many Nigerians are “refugees” in their own country due to ongoing insecurity.
In addition to these recommendations, Obi called for more aggressive action against corruption, stressing the importance of transparency in public procurement and the responsible management of the country’s debt.
He advocated for linking future borrowing to regenerative investments that would benefit Nigeria and support long-term development.
Obi concluded his remarks by calling for direct communication from President Tinubu to the Nigerian people, rather than relying on proxies, and urged for quarterly updates on the government’s progress in addressing the nation’s challenges.
