The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the prolonged absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the country amid worsening economic and security challenges.
Mr Obi, in a statement on Monday, questioned the president’s silence and lack of direct engagement with Nigerians at a time when the country is grappling with rising poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity.
He noted that Nigeria was projected to end the year with about 140 million people living in extreme poverty, the highest number globally, while also recording one of the world’s highest hunger levels and infant mortality rates.
“Since December 2025, Nigerians have not heard a word from their President. Reports indicate he opted for a holiday in Europe while the nation was plunged into a New Year marked by hunger, anxiety, and uncertainty. There was no New Year address, no national broadcast, no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance,” Mr Obi said.
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According to him, the situation had been compounded by growing insecurity and widespread youth unemployment, with millions of young Nigerians unable to find work or economic opportunities.
Mr Obi further criticised the President’s travel record, alleging that Tinubu spent about 196 days outside the country in 2025, more than the time spent governing from within Nigeria, despite the scale of the challenges confronting the nation.
The former Anambra State governor also faulted the president’s response to recent security developments, including reports of foreign military activity on Nigerian soil, stating that Nigerians relied on foreign media and officials for information rather than hearing from their own leader.
Obi described the situation as a failure of leadership, stressing that governance requires presence, transparency and direct communication with citizens, particularly during periods of national crisis.
He called on the president to address Nigerians directly through media briefings and national broadcasts, arguing that unity, clarity and trust are essential for economic recovery and national stability.
This is not governance; it’s neglect. The President was seen abroad yet again for another summit while remaining absent from his own country when he is needed the most,” he said
“Earlier this year, he even sent an AI-generated image to the nation instead of addressing his people face-to-face. Are we to believe Nigeria is being governed, or is it merely being managed from elsewhere? Leadership is not simply issuing press releases; it’s about standing before the people, engaging with them, and offering clarity.
“We are not asking for perfection; we demand presence. Nigerians are eager to hear from their President through direct media briefings. They deserve to understand the state of their country. You cannot run Nigeria like a personal business or a private club; it is imperative to rebuild and grow our economy through unity and clarity.”
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President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, arrived in Abu Dhabi for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The president touched down at the Presidential Wing of Zayed International Airport around 11:30 p.m. local time and was received by senior United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigerian officials, including Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
Several members of the Nigerian delegation, among them Budget and Planning Minister, Mr Atiku Bagudu, Trade and Investment Minister, Ms Jumoke Oduwole, and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director General, Mr Mohammed Mohammed, later joined him at his hotel.
Mr Tinubu arrived from Europe, where he held separate talks with Rwanda’s President, Mr Paul Kagame, and French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron, during his end of year engagements.
This year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is themed, ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’ and brings together global leaders to discuss climate action, energy transition and sustainable economic growth, with Nigeria positioning itself as an active voice in the conversations, Nigerian Info FM reported.
