Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has launched a pointed critique of Bola Tinubu, questioning his whereabouts and accusing him of neglecting urgent national duties amid deepening economic hardship and widespread insecurity.
In a strongly worded statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on January 12, 2026, Obi highlighted what he described as Tinubu’s prolonged absence from the country.
He claimed that Tinubu spent 196 days abroad in 2025 — more time outside Nigeria than within its borders — during one of the nation’s most challenging periods.
Obi pointed to the absence of any direct communication from Tinubu since December 2025, including no New Year address to the nation at the start of 2026.
“Since December 2025, Nigerians have not heard a word from their President,” Obi wrote.
“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.”
He described the situation as “not governance; it’s neglect,” contrasting Tinubu’s approach with leaders in other developing nations who remain present and responsive during crises.
The criticism arrives against a backdrop of alarming economic projections.
A recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in its Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026 warns that poverty could rise to 62% of the population this year, affecting approximately 141 million Nigerians.
The firm attributes the surge to persistent inflation, weak real income growth, high energy and food costs, and limited gains from recent reforms reaching ordinary households.
Similar forecasts from the World Bank indicate poverty peaking around 62% (roughly 141 million people) in 2026 before a possible slight decline in 2027.
Obi tied these figures directly to leadership failures, arguing that Tinubu’s extended time abroad — including an end-of-year trip to Europe reportedly beginning December 28, 2025 — has left citizens without visible guidance as hunger, youth unemployment, and insecurity continue to escalate.
Tinubu delivered a New Year address on January 1, 2026, broadcast to the nation, in which he projected a stronger phase of economic growth for the year.
He cited moderating inflation (below 15% by late 2025), improved foreign reserves, rising investment inflows, exchange rate stability, and sustained GDP expansion as signs that reforms are yielding results.
He pledged further inflation reduction, inclusive growth initiatives like the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme to engage millions, and intensified security cooperation to combat threats.
T’s message emphasized consolidating macroeconomic gains and building a resilient economy, though it did not directly address criticisms of his travel schedule or personal presence in the country during the holiday period.
Obi’s statement has reignited debates over leadership accountability, foreign travel by Nigerian leaders, and the pace at which economic reforms are translating into relief for citizens.
As the country grapples with these challenges ahead of future political cycles, the exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the administration’s reform narrative and opposition voices demanding more immediate, visible engagement at home.
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