Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised issues over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s extended absence from Nigeria throughout vital nationwide challenges.
Obi made the remarks in a publish on X, highlighting that the President spent 196 days overseas in 2025 alone.
His feedback come amid rising public issues over worsening poverty, insecurity, and unemployment throughout the nation.
Peter Obi criticized President Tinubu for being largely absent since December 2025, even because the nation faces excessive poverty, excessive youth unemployment, meals insecurity, and worsening toddler mortality, with out speaking with Nigerians.
“Within the midst of this chaos, the place has our President been? Spending 196 days overseas in 2025 alone greater than he has spent inside his personal nation, at a time once we face profound crises.
“Since December 2025, Nigerians haven’t heard a phrase from their President. Studies point out he opted for a vacation in Europe whereas the nation was plunged right into a New 12 months marked by starvation, anxiousness, and uncertainty,” he mentioned
He expressed concern that Nigerian residents are left with out steerage or reassurance, saying that the nation deserve perceive the state of their nation particularly in instances of nationwide disaster.
He mentioned that the President can not deal with the nation as a personal enterprise and should present as much as assist rebuild the nation by means of unity and readability.
Obi additionally criticized the President for leaving Nigerians to study main safety occasions from overseas media and obscure statements by aides, saying true management requires direct engagement with the individuals.
“In Nigeria, following U.S. navy strikes on our soil, our President remained silent. As a substitute of immediately addressing the nation, Nigerians discovered about these vital occasions from overseas media, American officers, and the obscure communications from the Presidency’s aides recognized for his or her propaganda, slightly than from their very own chief.
“This isn’t governance; it’s neglect. The President was seen overseas but once more for one more summit whereas remaining absent from his personal nation when he’s wanted essentially the most. Earlier this 12 months, he even despatched an AI-generated picture to the nation as a substitute of addressing his individuals face-to-face,” he mentioned.
Obi emphasised that Nigerians should not asking for perfection however count on the President to be current and talk immediately with the individuals.
He warned that the absence of robust, seen management undermines nationwide unity and makes it tougher to implement insurance policies, reforms, or {economic} plans successfully.
Nigeria has continued to face widespread insecurity that has affected faculties, communities and locations of worship, fueling nationwide concern over security and the safety of residents.
In late 2025, armed {groups} carried out among the nation’s largest college kidnappings in years, together with the kidnapping of greater than 300 youngsters and a dozen lecturers from a Catholic boarding college in Niger State, one of many worst mass kidnappings for the reason that Chibok women incident, with most of the college students freed after weeks of uncertainty.