Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has questioned the absence and silence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid what he described as a worsening national emergency marked by poverty, hunger, insecurity, and leadership vacuum.
In a strongly worded post shared on his X handle on Monday, Obi asked pointedly: “Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”, describing the question as more than rhetoric but “a critical demand for accountability in a national emergency.”
Obi warned that as the year draws to a close, Nigeria is projected to host about 140 million people living in extreme poverty, the highest figure globally, while also grappling with widespread hunger, escalating insecurity, and alarming unemployment levels among young people.
According to him, Nigeria is now “one of the worst places to be born,” citing infant mortality rates that are worse than those of countries far larger in population size.
Against this backdrop, Obi raised concerns about the President’s prolonged absence from the country, alleging that Tinubu spent 196 days abroad in 2025 alone, exceeding the number of days spent at home during a period of severe national distress.
He further noted that Nigerians have “not heard a word from their President since December 2025,” adding that reports suggested the President chose to holiday in Europe while citizens ushered in the New Year amid “hunger, anxiety, and uncertainty.”
“There was no New Year address, no national broadcast, no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance,” Obi lamented.
Drawing comparisons with other developing countries, Obi argued that leadership requires visibility and engagement, especially during crises. He criticised the President’s silence following reported U.S. military strikes on Nigerian soil, noting that Nigerians learned of the development through foreign media and American officials, rather than a direct address from their own leader.
“This is not governance; it’s neglect,” Obi stated, adding that the President was later seen attending another international summit while remaining absent at home when leadership was most needed.
Obi also recalled an earlier incident where the President reportedly sent “an AI-generated image to the nation instead of addressing his people face-to-face,” describing it as symbolic of detachment from citizens.
Questioning the nature of governance in the country, Obi asked: “Are we to believe Nigeria is being governed, or is it merely being managed from elsewhere?” He stressed that leadership goes beyond press releases and aides’ statements.
“We are not asking for perfection; we demand presence,” Obi said, calling for direct media briefings from the President to help Nigerians understand the true state of the nation.
He warned that progress cannot be achieved without unity and leadership that inspires trust, adding that “no policy, reform, economic plan, or security measure can thrive in a divided nation.”
“In a time of crisis, the absence of leadership is not just troubling; it is perilous,” Obi concluded. “Silence in the face of crisis is the loudest form of failure.”
He ended his message with a familiar rallying call: “A New Nigeria is not just POssible; it is essential.”