Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence amid Nigeria’s deepening crisis

Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence amid Nigeria’s deepening crisis

The Presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has raised serious concerns over the prolonged absence and silence of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the face of what he described as a worsening national emergency.

In a strongly worded statement, Obi asked, “Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” stressing that the question goes beyond curiosity and represents a demand for accountability at a critical time in the nation’s history. He noted that as the year draws to a close, Nigeria is projected to have about 140 million people living in extreme poverty, the highest number in the world. He also pointed to the country’s growing hunger crisis, escalating insecurity, and alarming youth unemployment, with over 80 million young people reportedly without jobs. According to him, Nigeria is now among the worst places to be born, citing infant mortality rates that are even worse than those of a nation seven times its size.

Obi expressed concern that despite these challenges, the President has reportedly spent 196 days abroad in 2025 alone, a period longer than the time spent within the country. He described this as deeply troubling, given the magnitude of Nigeria’s social and economic crises.

He further stated that Nigerians have not heard directly from their President since December 2025. According to Obi, instead of addressing the nation at the start of the New Year, the President reportedly chose to spend the period on holiday in Europe, leaving the country without a New Year address, national broadcast, or any direct message of reassurance and guidance.

Obi contrasted this situation with what is obtainable in other developing nations, where leaders, he said, step forward and communicate directly with their citizens during difficult times. He criticized the silence of the President following reported U.S. military strikes on Nigerian soil, noting that Nigerians learned about the incident through foreign media and American officials rather than from their own government.

Obi described the situation as “not governance, but neglect,” arguing that leadership requires physical presence, direct engagement, and transparent communication. He lamented that instead of speaking to Nigerians face-to-face, the President had earlier sent what he described as an AI-generated image, which he said symbolized the widening disconnect between leadership and the people.

“Are we being governed, or merely being managed from elsewhere?” Obi asked, emphasizing that leadership is more than issuing press releases through aides. He insisted that Nigerians deserve regular, direct media briefings from their President and a clear understanding of the state of the nation.

He stressed that Nigeria cannot be run like a personal business or a private club, adding that rebuilding and growing the economy requires unity, clarity, and visible leadership. According to him, no policy, reform, or security initiative can succeed in a divided nation, and when leadership withdraws, unity collapses, giving way to mistrust and instability.

“In a time of crisis, the absence of leadership is not just troubling; it is dangerous. Silence in the face of crisis is the loudest form of failure,” Obi declared.