PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023 election, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from Nigeria at a time when the country is grappling with severe economic challenges.
Obi’s reaction followed Tinubu’s extended two-week leave in the United Kingdom and Shettima’s recent trip to Sweden.
In a statement on Friday, October 18, Obi questioned the rationale behind both leaders being away from the country simultaneously, given the magnitude of domestic problems facing Nigeria.
“While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absence from the Villa, there is no vacancy in the presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems,” Obi said.
The ICIR reported that the presidency announced that Tinubu would depart Abuja on Wednesday, October 2, for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation, expected to end on October 16.
However, two days after his expected resumption to office, the President has yet to return to the country.
Obi noted that the President’s absence had extended beyond the promised duration, raising questions about his commitment to addressing the country’s crises.
“The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days. The 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country.
“One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours,” Obi added.
This was as the former Anambra governor challenged the President’s decision to send Shettima to Sweden for a two-day bilateral engagement while the President travelled to France while vacationing in the UK.
Obi argued that Tinubu could have easily attended the two-day working visit in Sweden on his way back from France, considering the distance between the two European cities.
“He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over two hours. This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time.
“Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3,055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about four times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event. It would take about four times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm,” Obi argued.
While calling on the country’s leadership to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and prioritise the well-being of the citizens, he stressed the implications of these travels, especially given the current economic hardships facing Nigerians due to some of the administration’s policies.
“This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritise the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation’s scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people,” Obi said.
Obi’s comments come amid growing discontent among Nigerians who are feeling the impact of economic policies of the Tinubu’s government.
The ICIR reported that Tinubu stopped fuel subsidies on the day he took over power on May 29, 2023, and subsequently devalued the local currency – the naira – thus causing a spiral hike in food and commodity prices.
While the President admitted the economic hardship his policies and reforms had caused, he recently noted that the reforms were beginning to yield positive results.
In his October 1, Independence Day address, Tinubu said his administration had secured over $30 billion in foreign direct investments into the nation since he took over power.
However, The ICIR reports that his claims conflict with the rising inflation and a hike in the cost of living that have pushed many citizens into despair.
Many Nigerians have also claimed that these strides have not translated into a visible improvement in their lives, adding that the hardships had worsened.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M