Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu over his planned 12-day foreign trip to Japan and Brazil, describing the travel as insensitive and ill-timed amid Nigeria’s worsening economic and security crises.

In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi questioned the rationale behind the trip, arguing that it shows a “lack of empathy” and “indifference” to the suffering of millions of Nigerians.

“I am struggling with my senses to understand what is happening to governance in this country,” Obi wrote. “What our nation needs now is the security of lives and property, economic stability, and ensuring that our people have food on their tables. This dire reality demands the full attention of Mr. President.”

According to an itinerary released by the Presidency, President Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for a two-nation tour that includes a stopover in Dubai. He will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan before proceeding to Brazil for a state visit.

Obi’s criticism focused on the timing and purpose of the trip. He noted that the President has recently returned from a trip to Brazil for the BRICS Summit and questioned the necessity of another visit to the same country so soon. He also lamented that President Tinubu has not shown the same enthusiasm for visiting crisis-hit states across Nigeria as he has for traveling abroad.

“Mr. President must know that he’s not a tourist, but the Chief Executive of a troubled nation,” Obi concluded. “He must have consciousness, strict work schedules and a strict travelling schedule to show that he has a troubled country to quickly return to.”

While the Presidency has not yet issued a direct response to Obi’s latest critique, it has previously defended President Tinubu’s foreign engagements as crucial diplomatic efforts aimed at attracting foreign investment and strengthening global partnerships.