Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his ongoing trip to France and return to Nigeria to address the worsening insecurity across the country.
Obi made the appeal in a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, expressing concern over the President’s absence amid escalating violence and communal clashes, particularly in Plateau and Zamfara states.
“In the two weeks you’ve been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity. From insurgent attacks in the North-East to pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta and abductions in the South-East, the nation is clearly in distress,” Obi stated.
He criticized Tinubu’s continued stay abroad, referring to him as “the CEO of the troubled company called Nigeria,” and urged him to return immediately to take charge.
Obi’s comments come after the Presidency denied rumors that Tinubu’s trip was for medical reasons. Presidential aide Daniel Bwala clarified on Channels TV that the visit was work-related, while the President’s media adviser, Bayo Onanuga, noted that Tinubu, who left Nigeria on April 2, is expected back in about two weeks.
Despite official explanations, activist Omoyele Sowore alleged on Facebook that the President’s visit was for medical treatment.
Obi concluded his statement by emphasizing the need for leadership and accountability: “The nation deserves a leader who takes responsibility in times of crisis. That is the new Nigeria we all seek.”