Obi Critiques Tinubu's Foreign Trip Amid National Crisis

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on a three-week vacation in Europe at a time when Nigeria is facing severe economic hardship and insecurity. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Obi pointed out that Nigerians are struggling with rising food and transportation costs, and insecurity is affecting communities nationwide.

He referenced the abduction of approximately 600 Nigerians, mainly women, children, and the elderly, during Juma’at prayers in Niger State, as indicative of the country's challenges. Obi questioned the government's spending on presidential travel, alleging that N37.64 billion was spent on such trips between June 2023 and April 2026, with Tinubu reportedly spending about 261 days outside Nigeria during this period.

He argued that the disparity in spending reflects misplaced priorities, as only N36 million was allocated to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025 from a capital allocation of N218 billion. Obi emphasized the need for the President to focus on addressing insecurity, poverty, healthcare, and education rather than traveling abroad.