Ruth NWORIE
A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has questioned the continued absence of President Bola Tinubu, calling for accountability and visible leadership amid what he described as Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi asked, “Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” describing the question as a demand for accountability during a period of national emergency.
According to him, Nigeria was facing severe socio-economic difficulties, with millions of citizens living in extreme poverty, rising hunger, worsening insecurity, and widespread youth unemployment.
Obi alleged that President Tinubu has spent a significant part of 2025 outside the country, claiming the President was absent for 196 days, at a time when Nigerians are grappling with hardship and uncertainty.
From his page on Twitter 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.
