Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has queried President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from the presidential villa in Abuja amid Nigeria’s deepening socio-economic and security crises.
Mr Obi, a strong critic of Mr Tinubu’s government, said his query was not just a question but a critical demand for accountability in a national emergency.
He noted that towards the end of the year 2026, Nigeria will become home to approximately 140 million people living in extreme poverty.
“We are grappling with one of the hungriest populations globally, staggering insecurity, an unemployment rate exceeding 80 million among our youth, and one of the worst places to be born, with infant mortality rates worse than those of a nation seven times our size,” said Mr Obi.
He added, “In the midst of this chaos, where has our president been? Spending 196 days abroad in 2025 alone—more than he has spent within his own country, at a time when we face profound crises.”
While alleging that Nigerians have not heard a word from the president since December 2025, Mr Obi said, “Reports indicate he opted for a holiday in Europe while the nation was plunged into a New Year marked by hunger, anxiety, and uncertainty.”
“There was no New Year address, no national broadcast, and no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance,” he added.
He charged the president to imitate the presidents of other developing nations and berated him for abandoning his office to travel the world.
Mr Obi added, “Instead of directly addressing the nation, Nigerians learned about these critical events from foreign media, American officials, and the vague communications from the presidency’s aides known for their propaganda, rather than from their own leader.
“This is not governance; it’s neglect. The president was seen abroad yet again for another summit while remaining absent from his own country when he is needed the most. Earlier this year, he even sent an AI-generated image to the nation instead of addressing his people face-to-face.”
Mr Obi further urged Mr Tinubu to stand before Nigerians and clarify the reasons for his absence.
“We are not asking for perfection; we demand presence. Nigerians are eager to hear from their president through direct media briefings. They deserve to understand the state of their country. You cannot run Nigeria like a personal business or a private club; it is imperative to rebuild and grow our economy through unity and clarity,” he added.
Mr Obi further said that in a time of crisis, the absence of leadership is not only troubling but also perilous.
“Silence in the face of crisis is the loudest form of failure,” he noted.
