Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on a 12-day foreign trip to Japan and Brazil, describing it as insensitive to Nigeria’s worsening crises.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Obi expressed concern over Tinubu’s frequent international travels despite the country’s deepening economic hardship, insecurity, and poverty.

Tinubu is expected to leave Abuja with a stopover in Dubai before attending the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20 to 22, and later proceeding to Brazil. Obi questioned the necessity of the trip, pointing out that the President had recently visited Brazil and should instead be touring Nigerian states battling insecurity and hunger.

Obi also recalled that during a previous engagement abroad, Tinubu spent a week in St. Lucia before attending the BRICS Summit, where Nigeria participated only as an observer.

Calling on the President to reduce unnecessary overseas engagements, Obi stressed that Nigeria urgently needs a leader focused on security, economic stability, and food security.

“What our nation needs now is the security of lives and property, economic stability, and ensuring that our people have food on their tables. Nigerians know our huge problems cannot be solved overnight, but they want to see 100% effort and tireless commitment,” Obi said.

“The President must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” he added, urging Tinubu to adopt stricter work and travel schedules.