Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed grave concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s latest “10-day working leave” in the United Kingdom (UK) and France, deeming his frequent foreign trips a serious issue. Obi highlighted that the President departed the country on Thursday, a mere six days after returning from another 15-day international absence. He argued that for a nation grappling with severe hunger, widespread insecurity, and various tragedies, Nigerians expect their president to remain at home and actively address these critical challenges.

Taking to his X handle, the former governor of Anambra State accused President Tinubu of avoiding Nigeria’s problems, asserting that the President prioritizes holidays and trips over the welfare of Nigerian citizens. Obi claimed that a significant portion of Tinubu’s two years in office has been spent traveling abroad rather than within the country. He unequivocally stated, “No holiday is more important than the Nigerian lives you swore to protect. At a time when Nigerians need leadership, empathy, and presence, a president should not choose foreign holidays.”

Obi enumerated several pressing issues that he believes President Tinubu should be addressing domestically instead of traveling. He noted that this upcoming trip would mark approximately Tinubu's tenth visit to France in two years for his “annual holiday,” suggesting the President appears to be “running away from Nigeria at every slight opportunity.” He questioned why so much of Tinubu’s tenure has been spent away from the country he was elected to govern, while concurrently, at least 79% of Nigerians—over 180 million people—are reportedly facing food insecurity.

Furthermore, Obi underscored that Nigeria was recently identified as the worst country for childbirth and the worst place to live globally, possessing the world’s lowest life expectancy. He cited recent tragic events: over 50 individuals were killed in a mosque and village attack in Katsina State, with more than 60 kidnapped, just last month while the President was on one of his many trips. He also referenced the devastating boat mishap in Niger State, where 60 women and young children died, with many more still missing, occurring just days before Tinubu's latest departure. Obi questioned the President's apparent lack of compassion, asking why he failed to visit these grieving families before jetting off again, and demanded to know how many more must die before the President truly presides over the country.

Concluding his remarks, Obi reiterated that “True leadership is about sacrifice and the ability to improve healthcare, invest in quality education, lift millions out of poverty, and guarantee the security of every citizen.” Earlier on Thursday, Presidential spokesman Mr. Bayo Onanuga had informed Nigerians of Tinubu’s impending trip, stating that the President would depart Abuja to commence a “working vacation” in Europe as part of his 2025 annual leave, spending the period between France and the UK.

In response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state, through its spokesman Mogaji Seye Oladejo, urged Peter Obi to exercise restraint and cease undermining national discourse with what they termed “knee-jerk statements crafted for social media applause.” The party reacted to Obi's comments questioning President Tinubu’s private vacation and linking it to the nation’s security situation, advocating for credible and constructive opposition rather than a “professional Complainer-in-Chief like Obi.”

Oladejo challenged Obi's constant commentary, asking, “Must Peter Obi comment on everything or anything?” He argued that Nigerians are not deceived by Obi’s persistent moralizing of the President’s every move, which he believes smacks less of patriotism and more of a “desperate grasp for relevance.” Oladejo suggested that Obi consistently trivializes the seriousness of governance and reduces complex national issues to mere talking points in his attempt to portray himself as the nation’s conscience.

The APC spokesman defended President Tinubu, asserting that like any responsible leader, the President remains “fully briefed and in active communication with his security and intelligence teams – even while on a brief vacation.” He emphasized that governance does not cease simply because a leader takes time to rest, especially given the availability of secure, real-time communication. Oladejo accused Obi of prioritizing “posturing over pragmatism” and suggested that a former governor and presidential aspirant should understand when to speak, how to speak, and when to exercise discipline and remain silent. He further advised Obi’s handlers to be more attentive to their principal for the sake of his well-being and public perception, stating that a statesman should not appear perpetually agitated, misinformed, or out of touch with leadership responsibilities.

Finally, Oladejo concluded that while the current administration is diligently working to rebuild the economy, secure the nation, and restore confidence in public institutions, Mr. Obi offers “little more than soundbites, sermons, and reactionary commentary,” without providing any policy or proposals. He categorized Obi’s comments as “noise and not leadership and patriotism,” challenging him to offer meaningful, thoughtful, and responsible contributions, otherwise suggesting that “silence remains an honourable option.” The APC affirmed its focus on the serious business of governance, dismissing the actions of “political opportunists.”