Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for frequently leaving the country, describing the president’s prolonged absences as evidence that he finds Nigeria unconducive for a long stay.

Tribune Online reports that Tinubu departed Abuja for France on Thursday for a 10-day “working vacation” in Europe as part of his 2025 annual leave.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Friday, Obi said Tinubu had once again departed Nigeria for France, less than a week after returning from a 15-day trip, despite the initial visit being scheduled for only five days.

He noted that the president has made nearly ten trips to France in just two years in office, mostly for holidays, raising concerns over his level of commitment to the country’s challenges.

According to him, while the president spends time abroad, Nigerians continue to grapple with worsening food insecurity, with reports showing that about 79 percent of the population faces hunger.

Obi expressed concern that despite a surge in killings and kidnappings, including the recent mosque and village attack in Katsina State that claimed over 50 lives and saw more than 60 people abducted, the president has failed to show empathy by visiting affected areas.

He also referenced the boat mishap in Niger State that killed at least 60 people including women and children, questioning why the president could not make a short trip from Abuja to console grieving families before travelling again.

Obi argued that no holiday should take precedence over Nigerian lives, stressing that the country requires leadership, compassion, and presence in times of crisis.

He maintained that true leadership demands sacrifice, investment in healthcare and education, poverty reduction, and prioritising citizens’ security over personal comfort.

The statement reads, “When Home is not Conducive to the President.

“From all indications, our President is not finding his home in Nigeria conducive for a long stay, and it should be concerning to us.

”Just yesterday, for the umpteenth time, Mr. President waved the nation goodbye again, barely 6 days after his return to Nigeria, after he spent 15 whole days for just a five-day engagement. He is now heading for about his 10th trip to France in two years, this time for his annual holiday. It does look like Mr. President is running away from Nigeria at every slight opportunity. And one would wonder why so much of his two years in office has been spent on holidays or away from the very country he was elected to preside over.

“Meanwhile, at least 79% of Nigerians have been reported to be facing food insecurity, that is over 180 million people facing hunger.

“Nigeria, just last month, was declared the worst country to give birth, and just weeks ago, the worst place to live, with the world’s worst life expectancy. We deserve a president with all hands on deck to solve these issues.

“Across Nigeria, last month alone while Mr. President was on one of his very many trips, over 50 people were killed in the horrifying mosque and village attack in Katsina State, with over 60 people kidnapped. This is exclusive of the many bandit attacks and kidnappings just last month.

“One would have expected that the president would at least visit one of these states when he arrived 6 days ago, or at least visit Niger State where just yesterday, 60 of our citizens, women and young children, died in a boat mishap with many more still missing. 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. 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. At a time when Nigerians need leadership, empathy, and presence, a President should not choose foreign holidays. True leadership is about sacrifice and the ability to improve healthcare, invest in quality education, pull millions out of poverty, and guarantee the security of every citizen.“ (Nigerian Tribune)

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