Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has raised concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria, expressing disappointment amid the nation’s growing economic challenges. Speaking on Friday, October 17, 2024, Obi questioned why Tinubu had not returned to the country despite the end of his two-week leave.
Tinubu, who left Nigeria on October 2, 2024, for a working vacation in the United Kingdom, was expected to return after 14 days. However, reports indicate that the president traveled to Paris, France, after spending a week in the UK to attend an undisclosed engagement.
Obi, in his statement, remarked, “The president had assured Nigerians he would be away for 14 days, yet those days have passed, and we are still waiting for his return. Given the level of work that needs urgent attention in our country, one would have expected him to come back sooner.”
The former governor of Anambra State went on to highlight the economic strain many Nigerians are currently facing, attributing some of the difficulties to policies implemented by the Tinubu administration. Obi emphasized the need for Tinubu’s immediate presence to address the pressing challenges in the country.
“The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration’s policies is unimaginable, and we need his urgent attention to steer the nation out of its current difficulties,” Obi added.
Tinubu’s absence has sparked widespread public discussion, especially as Nigeria continues to grapple with inflation, fuel price hikes, and other economic woes. Critics argue that the president’s continued stay abroad sends a wrong signal at a time when decisive leadership is crucial.
