Criticism of Presidential Timing and National Security

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on another vacation abroad, describing the decision as insensitive to the worsening economic hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians. Obi noted that the timing of the three-week trip to Europe is particularly troubling given the rising cost of living and inadequate funding for critical sectors of the economy.

According to Obi, Nigerians are currently struggling to afford basic necessities such as food and transportation, while pervasive insecurity continues to disrupt communities and deny thousands of children access to education. He specifically pointed to the reported abduction of approximately 600 Nigerians, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, during Juma’at prayers in Niger State as a clear indicator of the gravity of the national security situation.

Yet, at this critical moment, the President has left the country for another holiday.

— Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential Candidate, Labour Party

Disparities in Government Expenditure and Sectoral Funding

The former Anambra State governor raised concerns over the scale of government spending on presidential travels. He cited reports indicating that expenditure on presidential trips and related travel expenses between June 2023 and April 2026 amounted to approximately N37.64 billion. Obi further claimed that President Tinubu has spent roughly 261 days outside the country within the period under review.

Obi contrasted these travel expenditures with what he described as the chronic underfunding of essential public services, particularly the healthcare sector. He noted a significant gap between budgetary allocations and actual fund releases for the benefit of Nigeria's population of over 230 million people.

Meanwhile, only N36 million was reportedly released to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025, despite a capital allocation of N218 billion, in a country of over 230 million people. This is the calamity befalling our country today.

— Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential Candidate, Labour Party

A government that can spend tens of billions on presidential travel while critical sectors remain starved of funds, and Nigerians are asked to endure worsening hardship, must not be allowed to continue.

— Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential Candidate, Labour Party

Advocacy for Domestic Tourism and Leadership Reform

Stressing that leadership is fundamentally about setting the right priorities, Obi urged the President to focus on domestic challenges rather than frequent foreign trips. He argued that the President should serve as the chief marketer of Nigeria’s tourism industry by visiting domestic destinations such as Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River State, Bauchi, and Ebonyi.

Obi maintained that promoting domestic tourism could unlock significant economic opportunities, including job creation in the hospitality, transportation, and agricultural sectors. He suggested that if leaders and citizens traveled within the country more frequently, it would bring much-needed investment and foreign exchange to local communities while utilizing Nigeria's natural and cultural assets.

The President of Nigeria should be the chief marketer of Nigeria as a tourism destination, as other comparable countries do. Tourism creates jobs. It supports hospitality, transportation, agriculture, entertainment, crafts, and small businesses.

— Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential Candidate, Labour Party

Concluding his statement, Obi called for a new style of leadership that prioritizes the welfare and security of citizens above all else. He emphasized that the country can no longer afford to export wealth while domestic potential remains untapped, promising that a partnership between himself and H.E. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would bring the necessary change to the nation.