In a searing critique that has reignited debate over governance priorities in Nigeria, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lambasted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on a trip to Saint Lucia and Brazil, describing it as insensitive, ill-timed, and grossly irresponsible amidst the country’s escalating socioeconomic and security crises.
In a strongly-worded statement titled “No, Mr President, This Is Not the Time for Holidaying,” shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Obi questioned the moral compass and leadership focus of the Tinubu administration. He lamented the government’s apparent detachment from the agonies of everyday Nigerians, whose lives are now defined by hunger, insecurity, and despair.
> “Dear Nigerians, I am struggling with my senses to understand what is happening to governance in this country,” Obi began, voicing a sentiment that resonates deeply with millions who feel abandoned by the political elite.
Obi said he was left in disbelief upon hearing the news of President Tinubu’s travel, initially thinking it was fake until it was confirmed in an official release by the Presidency. According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu would first visit Saint Lucia on a “state visit” and then proceed to Brazil for the 17th BRICS Summit scheduled from July 6 to 7, 2025.
However, Obi pointed out that Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, had earlier clarified that only two days (June 30 and July 1) were scheduled for official duties, with the rest of Tinubu’s stay designated for private vacation — a revelation that, to Obi, underscored the administration’s misplaced priorities.
> “In the past two years, Nigeria has lost more people to criminality than some countries at war,” Obi stated. “Yet, our President, instead of facing these existential threats head-on, has opted for leisure in a distant island while our people perish.”
He sharply condemned the President’s failure to visit Minna, Niger State, where over 200 citizens lost their lives and more than 700 remain missing after a catastrophic flood.
> “Which type of tragedy must happen before a Nigerian President shows up to physically console his people?” Obi questioned. “What does leadership mean if not presence and empathy in times of pain?”
He also cited the Benue massacre, where Tinubu eventually visited Makurdi but failed to reach the affected village. Obi criticized the visit as a political charade, saying the declaration of a public holiday and the staging of children lining the streets to welcome the President was “nothing short of a PR stunt.”
Drawing stark comparisons, Obi juxtaposed the sizes and populations of Saint Lucia (617 km²; 180,000 people) against Nigerian cities like Makurdi (937.4 km²; 489,839) and Minna (6,789 km²; 532,000), to emphasize the absurdity of prioritizing a Caribbean vacation over domestic catastrophes.
> “This is not just a question of optics; it’s a deep moral failure,” Obi charged. “This administration has shown an unrepentant bias for elitism and an open disregard for the plight of the ordinary Nigerian.”
With the country grappling with record levels of poverty, food inflation, a decaying healthcare system, and rampant insecurity, Obi expressed disbelief that the President is focused more on 2027 elections and appeasing the wealthy, rather than devising urgent solutions for national survival.
> “One would expect that a leader faced with this scale of crisis would be praying for extra hours in a day, not boarding flights to a Caribbean resort,” Obi fired.
He concluded with a passionate appeal for an urgent redirection of governance priorities, warning that continued detachment from the suffering masses could lead the country further into chaos.
> “Nigeria’s God-given resources belong to all, not just to a privileged few. The time to stop this dangerous drift is now. Our leaders must focus on lifting the people out of poverty, not sinking deeper into luxury while the nation bleeds.”
Peter Obi’s statement has already triggered a firestorm on social media, with many Nigerians echoing his concerns and demanding accountability from a government increasingly seen as out of touch with its citizens.
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