Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi, has condemned President Bola Tinubu for what he described as misplaced priorities following the President’s ongoing 8-day trip to Saint Lucia, during which he received a traditional title, while Nigeria grapples with surging insecurity, mass protests, and a worsening education crisis.
The former Anambra governor accused the President of abandoning a nation in distress for personal accolades abroad.
Speaking on Tuesday, Obi described the situation as symptomatic of a failed state where “titles and honours matter more than human lives and governance”.
“It is alarming that we now live in a country of titles and honours without any passion for the people’s plight,” Obi said. “While the Presidency basks in the euphoria of titles in St. Lucia, our people are being killed at home.”
Obi cited recent violent incidents, including a Boko Haram attack in Yobe State on Monday that reportedly claimed the lives of at least 37 people, as evidence of the urgent security challenges facing the country.
He also referenced ongoing protests in Kwara State over unemployment and insecurity, and teacher demonstrations in Abuja demanding unpaid salaries.
“Since the President left for his trip to Saint Lucia — a nation 1/6th the size of Lagos and 1% of its population — more than 200 Nigerians have died in various crisis-related incidents.
“Families are fleeing their homes. Children are out of school. Teachers are protesting. Yet, the President is receiving personal titles on a Caribbean island.”
THE WHISTLER reports that President Tinubu’s 8-day visit to Saint Lucia was initially presented by presidential aides as part of efforts to strengthen cultural and economic ties, with the trip reportedly culminating in his attendance at the upcoming BRICS summit.
However, Obi questioned the relevance and urgency of the visit, stating that no substantial agreements or bilateral partnerships had been announced to justify such a long absence from a country in crisis.
“Having been in St. Lucia for four days now, we have not seen any agreement entered or signed that would contribute to Nigeria’s development,” he noted.
“We are watching Mr. President collect a personal honour and title because they know we are a country that craves accolades instead of actual development.”
Obi also criticized Tinubu for failing to demonstrate empathy or urgency by visiting crisis-affected communities within Nigeria.
“Other than Katsina, where Mr. President attended a wedding, he has never spent a night or slept in any Nigerian state outside Lagos for an official tour,” Obi said.
“He has never visited Niger, Taraba, or Plateau states, despite the bloodshed there, yet he is spending eight days on a Caribbean island.
“A nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial. At a time when blood is being spilled, when communities are erased overnight, when children are orphaned and teachers are unpaid, leadership must be present.”
Presidential aides had earlier defended the trip, stating that the President’s engagements were tied to foreign policy, cultural diplomacy, and economic benefits. They also noted that the trip coincides with preparations for the BRICS summit, scheduled for July 6–7.
But Obi dismissed these justifications, pointing out that major BRICS leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are not expected to attend due to pressing domestic matters.
“We must prioritize our domestic challenges because no summit, no vacation, and certainly no ceremonial title is more important than the lives of the Nigerian people a leader swore to protect.”
Obi urged Nigerian leaders to return to the basics: ensuring the safety, education, and welfare of the people.
“Our children should be in school. Our people, especially the youth, must be lifted out of poverty. We must now prioritize the security and welfare of Nigerians and vigorously pursue the same,” he said.
