- Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence amid Nigeria’s worsening crisis
- Claims president spent long periods abroad while poverty deepens
- Faults lack of New Year address or national briefing
- Warns Nigeria cannot be governed remotely during emergency
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised fresh concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s continued absence from the country, describing it as a serious leadership failure amid what he called a national emergency.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the former Anambra State governor asked pointedly:
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“Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Obi said the question was not political grandstanding but a demand for accountability, stressing that millions of Nigerians are battling hunger, unemployment and insecurity without visible presidential leadership.
He alleged that over 140 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty, while unemployment continues to affect tens of millions of young people across the country.
According to Obi, President Tinubu allegedly spent 196 days outside Nigeria in 2025, a period he said exceeded the time the president spent within the country during a year marked by deep economic and social distress.
“In the midst of this chaos, where has our President been?” Obi asked.
“Since December 2025, Nigerians have not heard directly from their President. There was no New Year address, no national broadcast, no words of reassurance.”
Obi described the situation as “leadership by absence”, arguing that governance requires physical presence, direct communication and regular engagement with citizens, not remote control.
He warned that prolonged withdrawal from the country breeds mistrust, weakens confidence in economic reforms and undermines national unity.
“This is not governance; it is neglect,” Obi said.
“Leadership is not issuing press releases from afar. It is standing before the people, answering questions and offering clarity.”
The former governor also questioned whether Nigeria was being governed at all or merely managed from outside its borders, insisting that the country cannot be run like a private business.
President Tinubu departed Lagos on December 28 for Europe as part of his end-of-year break and later travelled to Abu Dhabi to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The trip followed official visits to Borno and Bauchi states, as well as time spent in Lagos.
Obi concluded by urging the president to speak directly to Nigerians, saying citizens deserve clarity about the direction of the country during a difficult
