Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of being absent at a time the country needs him the most.
In a statement on X on Monday, Obi questioned the President’s visibility as Nigeria battles deepening poverty, hunger, insecurity, and rising unemployment, noting that the country is projected to have about 140 million people living in extreme poverty by the end of the year, the highest figure globally.
He said Nigeria is grappling with one of the hungriest populations in the world, worsening insecurity, an unemployment crisis affecting over 80 million youths, and alarming infant mortality rates that make the country one of the worst places to be born.
According to him, President Tinubu spent 196 days outside the country in 2025 alone, a period he said exceeded the time the President spent within Nigeria despite the scale of the national crises.
Obi also faulted the President’s silence since December 2025, alleging that Nigerians entered the New Year without a presidential address or national broadcast, while reports suggested the President was on holiday in Europe.
He argued that the lack of direct communication from the President during critical moments has left Nigerians anxious and uninformed, especially on major security issues, including reported U.S. military strikes on Nigerian soil, which he said citizens learned about through foreign media and official statements from the United States rather than from their own government.
The former Anambra State governor said the situation reflects a failure of leadership, stressing that governance requires presence, direct engagement and clear communication with citizens, not press releases or second-hand briefings.
He further criticised the President’s participation in foreign summits while remaining largely absent at home.
He wrote, “Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
“This is not just a question; it’s a critical demand for accountability in a national emergency. As we approach the end of this year, Nigeria will be home to approximately 140 million people living in extreme poverty—the highest number in the world. 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.
“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.
“Since December 2025, Nigerians have not heard a word from their President. 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, no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance.
“This lack of presence starkly contrasts with what we see in comparable developing nations where leaders step up in times of crisis. In Nigeria, following U.S. military strikes on our soil, our President remained silent. 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.
“Are we to believe Nigeria is being governed, or is it merely being managed from elsewhere? Leadership is not simply issuing press releases; it’s about standing before the people, engaging with them, and offering clarity.
“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.
“Progress is impossible without unity and consensus, and it begins with strong leadership that sets the tone. No policy, reform, economic plan, or security measure can thrive in a divided nation. When leadership withdraws, unity falters, and the fabric of our society unravels under the weight of mistrust and division.
“In a time of crisis, the absence of leadership is not just troubling; it is perilous. Silence in the face of crisis is the loudest form of failure.
“A New Nigeria is not just POssible; it is essential. -PO”