Peter Obi Condemns Tinubu’s Saint Lucia Trip Amid National Crises
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing trip to Saint Lucia, describing it as “insensitive and ill-timed” given Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and security challenges.
Obi’s comments, published in Vanguard Newspaper, come in response to Tinubu’s departure for a combined official engagement and personal vacation in the Caribbean nation.
Obi faulted the President for choosing to travel abroad at a time when the country is facing multiple humanitarian crises.
He specifically cited the recent devastating floods in Minna, Niger State, where more than 200 lives were reportedly lost and many others displaced, as a moment that demanded the President’s presence and empathy—not absence.
“The President should not be holidaying while Nigerians are dying,” Obi said. “What is more urgent now than being with the people during their time of pain and loss? Leadership is about presence, not spectacle.”
The former Anambra State governor also condemned what he referred to as a “political jamboree” held in Makurdi in the wake of deadly attacks in Benue State. He contrasted Tinubu’s absence in flood-ravaged areas with his visible presence at a political gathering, accusing the administration of misplaced priorities.
Obi further criticized the symbolic weight of Tinubu’s destination.
“Saint Lucia, with its population of less than 200,000 and small landmass, cannot be a reason for abandoning over 200 million Nigerians in their suffering,” he said, pointing out the disconnect between elite political conduct and the everyday reality of the Nigerian people.
The Saint Lucia visit, which reportedly includes meetings with the Caribbean nation’s parliament and government officials, is also expected to be followed by a trip to Brazil for the upcoming BRICS summit.
The presidency has defended the trip as part of Tinubu’s ongoing diplomatic agenda to boost Nigeria’s global economic ties.
However, Obi remained unimpressed, insisting that the President must first address urgent local matters. “International diplomacy cannot come at the expense of human lives and basic dignity,” he stated.
The criticism adds to growing public discontent over President Tinubu’s frequent foreign travels and perceived detachment from pressing domestic issues, including food insecurity, inflation, and insecurity in parts of the country.
Observers note that this latest rebuke from Obi may signal a more vocal opposition stance going forward, especially as Nigeria navigates turbulent economic waters and rising political scrutiny under Tinubu’s leadership.
