Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to Saint Lucia, where he received the country’s highest national honor, Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL). Obi described the trip as ill-timed and insensitive, given the country’s current security and economic challenges.
According to Obi, Nigeria is not a functioning nation, citing the country’s education crisis, where teachers have not been paid for almost three years, and the insecurity plaguing the nation, resulting in daily deaths and displacement of communities. “A nation where children cannot go to school because some of the teachers have not been paid for almost three years… This is not a functioning nation,” Obi stated.
Obi expressed disappointment that the Presidency is basking in the euphoria of titles while Nigerians are being killed at home. He emphasized that leaders must prioritize domestic challenges and be present for their people, especially during times of crisis. “A nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor argued that Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia is a misplaced priority, given the country’s pressing issues. “At a time when blood is being spilt on our soil, when children are orphaned and communities erased overnight, with families separated at IDPs, our children are not in school, and teachers are not paid and basic hospitals are not functional, our leadership must be present,” he stressed.
Obi’s criticism comes amid widespread insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria. The country has been grappling with various challenges, including Boko Haram attacks, kidnappings, and banditry, which have resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of people.
In response to Obi’s criticism, a senior aide to President Tinubu, Otega Ogra, slammed the former governor, saying he couldn’t understand the importance of the Saint Lucia trip because he had nothing to point to as a sustaining legacy from his government.
