Chinedum Elekwachi
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise President Bola Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips amid Nigeria’s worsening electricity crisis and other domestic challenges.
In his post, Obi recalled President Tinubu’s campaign promise in 2022, in which he declared: “If I do not provide steady electricity in my first four years, do not vote for me for a second term.”
He noted that the promise now appears far from being fulfilled, as the national grid has already collapsed twice in January 2026, even before the month came to an end.
According to him, the grid collapsed about twelve times in 2025 alone, a development he described as deeply troubling and contrary to the expectations of Nigerians.
Obi also drew attention to the President’s latest foreign trip to Turkey, pointing out the stark contrast between Nigeria and the host country.
He stated that Turkey, with a population of about 87 million people—roughly one-third of Nigeria’s population—generates and distributes over 120,000 megawatts of electricity, while Nigeria struggles to produce less than five percent of that capacity. He described the comparison as both striking and painful.
In a tone of concern and irony, Obi suggested that if the trend continues, Nigerians might soon hear of official visits to distant countries such as Palau or Vanuatu, while critical national issues remain unresolved at home.
He urged the President to focus more on addressing Nigeria’s pressing problems rather than embarking on frequent foreign travels.
The former Anambra State governor further lamented what he described as the nation’s growing fixation on the next election, instead of prioritising good governance and accountability.
He called on Nigerians to unite in demanding responsible leadership and an end to the indignity and suffering caused by persistent poor governance.