Obi faults Tinubu’s Europe holiday, cites insecurity, hardship

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s reported three-week vacation in Europe, arguing that the trip comes at a time Nigeria is facing worsening insecurity, economic hardship and pressure on critical public services.

In a statement titled, “President Tinubu Goes on Holiday Again,” Obi said the President should be focused on addressing the challenges confronting Nigerians rather than travelling abroad.

“Nigeria is in deep crisis. Nigerians can barely afford food and transportation. Insecurity is ravaging communities, and thousands of children are unable to access education because of insecurity,” Obi said.

He referred to reports of the abduction of about 600 people, mostly women, children and elderly residents, during Juma’at prayers in Niger State, describing the development as evidence of the country’s fragile security situation.

“Yet, at this critical moment, the President has left the country for another holiday,” Obi stated.

The former Anambra State governor also questioned government spending priorities, alleging that presidential trips and related travel expenses between June 2023 and April 2026 amounted to about ₦37.64 billion, while President Tinubu had spent about 261 days outside the country within the period.

Obi further claimed that only ₦36 million was released to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025 despite a capital allocation of ₦218 billion.

“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,” he said.

According to Obi, leadership should reflect clear priorities, particularly when citizens are struggling to afford food, access healthcare, travel safely and send their children to school.

“Leadership is about priorities,” he said, adding that the President “should be more concerned about fixing the country than repeatedly leaving it.”

Obi also urged Nigerian leaders to promote domestic tourism by vacationing within the country, naming Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River, Bauchi and Ebonyi states as possible destinations.

“The President of Nigeria should be the chief marketer of Nigeria as a tourism destination, as other comparable countries do,” he said.

He argued that increased local tourism would stimulate hospitality, transport, agriculture, entertainment, crafts and small businesses, while attracting investment and foreign exchange.

“We cannot continue to export our wealth and import our pleasures while our own enormous potential remains neglected,” Obi said.

The former presidential candidate said Nigeria needed leadership that “puts Nigeria first,” adding that this was the type of leadership he said would be offered through his political partnership with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.