Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia, describing it as ill-timed and out of touch with the country’s current challenges. Tinubu departed Nigeria on Saturday, June 28, ahead of the BRICS summit in Brazil, making a stop in Saint Lucia for what the Presidency described as official and personal engagements.
Obi, writing on X, expressed disbelief over the trip, saying it reflects misplaced priorities by the government. He raised concerns about Nigeria’s growing insecurity and worsening poverty, noting that citizens are unsure where their next meal will come from while violence continues to claim lives at an alarming rate. According to him, more people have died in Nigeria over the past two years than in some countries experiencing full-scale war.
He questioned why the president would choose to travel to the Caribbean, especially following what he described as a recent break in Lagos. Citing Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Obi highlighted that only two days—June 30 and July 1—have been set aside for official activities, with the remaining days reserved for personal vacation.
Obi admitted he initially doubted the report, finding it difficult to believe any leader would consider leisure at a time of national crisis. He pointed to Tinubu’s lack of response to tragedies such as the flooding in Minna, Niger State, which reportedly left over 200 people dead and hundreds missing.
He also criticised the president’s visit to Makurdi, Benue State, describing it as politically staged rather than genuine condolence. He noted that the president didn’t visit the scene of the killings but was instead received with ceremonial fanfare. Comparing statistics, Obi said Makurdi’s area is significantly larger than Saint Lucia’s, and both Makurdi and Minna have populations far greater than the island nation.
Calling for leadership rooted in empathy, Obi said no public official should consider vacationing under the current circumstances. He believes the administration continues to ignore the pain of ordinary Nigerians while focusing on political ambition and elite comfort. He urged Tinubu to redirect attention to pressing national issues, saying Nigeria’s leaders should be looking for more hours in a day to solve problems, not planning holidays.
