Peter Obi Continue To Condemn President Tinubu’s Trip to St. Lucia as Insecurity and Unrest Ravage Nigeria

 

As citizens in various parts of Nigeria continue to reel under the weight of insecurity, poverty and systemic failures, former presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced strong disapproval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-day trip to St. Lucia. Obi raised urgent concerns over what he described as a disturbing lack of empathy and presence from the nation’s top leadership, especially during what he called a time of national bleeding.

Obi’s remarks highlight what many Nigerians have come to see as a widening disconnect between those in power and the lived experiences of ordinary citizens. The former Anambra State governor lamented that, while citizens protest unpaid salaries and mourn victims of unending violence, the President is receiving titles abroad.

While the Presidency has defended the trip on the grounds of international diplomacy and economic cooperation, Obi questioned both the timing and the duration of the visit. He emphasized that the justification given by presidential aides – including the supposed link to the upcoming BRICS summit – does not match the urgency of Nigeria’s domestic issues. According to Obi, no foreign commitment or ceremony should come before the safety and well-being of Nigerians.

Currently, Nigeria is grappling with several internal crises. From mass protests by unpaid teachers to recent terror attacks in northern states, the climate of fear and frustration is palpable. In Yobe State alone, at least 37 lives were lost in a Boko Haram attack during the same period the President was receiving honours in St. Lucia. Protesters in Kwara State also took to the streets, decrying unemployment, banditry and worsening insecurity.

Peter Obi drew attention to a glaring contradiction: as accolades are being gathered abroad, nothing of developmental significance appears to be coming out of the President’s visit so far. No economic partnerships or bilateral agreements have been signed or publicly disclosed. Instead, the visit has been largely ceremonial, culminating in the President receiving a personal honour. Obi argued that such symbolic gestures offer no relief to a nation grappling with severe hardship.

While addressing the state of education, Obi painted a grim picture. Thousands of children remain out of school, largely because their teachers have not received salaries in years. He noted that only weeks ago, he raised similar concerns regarding university lecturers who have also been left unpaid and unsupported. The situation, according to him, reflects not just a breakdown in governance, but an erosion of national values.

Obi expressed particular concern that this was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a pattern where appearances and applause take precedence over action. He criticized the obsession with titles and honours, arguing that leadership must be measured not by accolades but by impact. At a time when schools are closed, hospitals under-equipped, and entire communities displaced, he believes it is unconscionable for any leader to be absent from the country without a pressing, productive agenda.

He also challenged the rationale surrounding the BRICS summit. The international meeting, scheduled for July 6th and 7th, is still days away. According to Obi, most BRICS heads of state, including those from China and Russia, have yet to leave their home countries due to other pressing issues. China reportedly cited scheduling conflicts, while Russia’s president remains grounded due to the ongoing war. India’s Prime Minister is also managing a regional tour within the same eight-day timeframe, staying close to home.

Despite this context, the Nigerian President is already four days into an eight-day Caribbean visit, during which Nigerians continue to endure worsening security challenges. Over 200 people have reportedly died from various crisis-related incidents during the President’s absence, Obi noted. This, he said, cannot be treated as coincidence. It is a reflection of a government increasingly out of touch with the harsh realities within its borders.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate did not mince words when discussing the President’s travel history. Since taking office, President Tinubu has not spent a night in any Nigerian state other than his home in Lagos and his hometown of Katsina, where he attended a wedding. He has yet to visit some of the country’s most troubled regions such as Niger State, Taraba or Plateau. For Obi, this shows an absence of compassion and leadership when it matters most.

Obi reminded Nigerians that leadership is not simply about showing up at international events or delivering speeches on global platforms. It is about standing with the people during moments of pain and uncertainty. Families are fleeing violence, children are going without education and citizens feel abandoned. This, he insists, is not the time for celebratory ceremonies abroad.

He reiterated that no summit, no diplomatic ribbon-cutting, and certainly no personal recognition should take precedence over the lives of citizens. Governance, according to him, must return to its most basic purpose – protecting lives and securing the welfare of the people.

As Peter Obi concluded, the dream of a New Nigeria is not just about changing faces in leadership, but about changing the very culture of governance. It must be about placing people above praise, substance above symbolism and presence above prestige.

“Nigerians deserve better,” he stated firmly. “We must now redirect our energy and resources toward solving the pressing challenges at home. Only then can we truly begin the journey to a better nation.”