Understanding Tinubu’s Absenteeism: 180 Days Abroad Out of 580 in Office
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for spending approximately 180 out of his 580 days in office on foreign trips.
Obi highlighted that this equates to over 30% of Tinubu’s tenure being spent abroad, with more than 30 publicly recorded overseas trips.
Obi suggested that President Tinubu should allocate at least 20% of 2025, roughly 72 days, to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each. He believes such visits would enable the President to better understand the country’s economic and security challenges.
Additionally, Obi recommended that President Tinubu consider conducting his next medical examination at one of Nigeria’s national hospitals or regional federal medical centers.
This, he argued, would allow the President to assess the state of healthcare facilities available to Nigerians and make informed decisions on necessary upgrades.
Obi also urged the President to travel by road to observe the condition of highways and to make impromptu visits to tertiary institutions to familiarize himself with the available infrastructure.
He emphasized the importance of visiting military formations and security agencies to boost morale and assure them of support.
These remarks were made during a media briefing in Abuja, where Obi expressed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening political, economic, and security situation.
He criticized the government’s recent approval of a national minimum wage of ₦70,000, stating that it is insufficient to afford basic necessities. Obi called for a reduction in the cost of governance and increased allocation of resources to critical areas such as security, health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Furthermore, Obi advocated for a more aggressive approach to combating corruption, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in public procurement and contract award processes.
He also advised that future borrowing should be tied to regenerative investments and productive assets that benefit the nation, rather than accumulating debt without tangible returns.