Spending 196 days abroad in 2025 alone, more than he has spent within his own country, at a time when we face profound crises.”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has questioned the whereabouts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of failing to provide leadership and reassurance amid what he described as a deepening national crisis.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi said Nigeria was facing severe socio-economic challenges, including widespread poverty, hunger, insecurity and unemployment, at a time when the President had reportedly spent more time outside the country than at home.
“Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” Obi asked, describing the question as “a critical demand for accountability in a national emergency.”
He said Nigeria was approaching the end of the year with an estimated 140 million people living in extreme poverty, the highest figure globally, alongside what he termed “one of the hungriest populations in the world.” Obi also cited worsening insecurity, mass youth unemployment running into tens of millions, and high infant mortality rates.
“In the midst of this chaos, where has our President been?” Obi asked. “Spending 196 days abroad in 2025 alone, more than he has spent within his own country, at a time when we face profound crises.”
Obi further alleged that since December 2025, Nigerians had not heard directly from the President, noting the absence of a New Year address or national broadcast despite widespread economic hardship and public anxiety.
“Reports indicate he opted for a holiday in Europe while the nation was plunged into a New Year marked by hunger, anxiety, and uncertainty,” he said. “There was no New Year address, no national broadcast, no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance.”
The former governor also criticised the President’s silence following reported U.S. military strikes on Nigerian soil, saying Nigerians learned of the development through foreign media and officials rather than from their own leader.
“This is not governance; it’s neglect,” Obi said, adding that the President was again seen abroad for another international summit while remaining absent at home. He also referenced an earlier instance in which an artificial intelligence-generated image was released in place of a direct address to Nigerians.
“Are we to believe Nigeria is being governed, or is it merely being managed from elsewhere?” he asked.
Obi stressed that leadership required presence and direct engagement with citizens, not just official statements issued by aides. “We are not asking for perfection; we demand presence,” he said, calling for direct media briefings to allow Nigerians understand the state of the nation.
According to him, unity and national consensus were impossible without visible leadership, warning that prolonged silence in a time of crisis was dangerous.
“In a time of crisis, the absence of leadership is not just troubling; it is perilous,” Obi said. “Silence in the face of crisis is the loudest form of failure.”
He concluded by reiterating his long-standing message of national renewal, saying, “A New Nigeria is not just POssible; it is essential.”