By Muhammad Mamman
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lashed out at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent trip abroad, insisting that governance does not grind to a halt because a leader takes a brief vacation.
President Tinubu departed Abuja on Thursday for a 10-day working holiday in Europe, part of his 2025 annual leave. But Mr Obi, a long-time critic of the administration, suggested that the president’s frequent foreign trips painted the image of a leader “increasingly uncomfortable in his own country—at a time Nigeria desperately needs his presence to confront mounting economic and security crises.”
Reacting in a strongly worded statement on Saturday, APC spokesperson in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, accused Mr Obi of “opportunistic commentary” and of trivialising governance.
“His latest remarks—questioning President Tinubu’s private vacation and carelessly linking it to the nation’s security—are yet another example of his compulsive tendency to insert himself into every national conversation, regardless of relevance, accuracy or decorum,” Mr Oladejo said.
He stressed that President Tinubu remained in constant communication with his security and intelligence chiefs and continued to discharge his duties seamlessly. “Governance does not stop simply because a leader takes time to rest. In today’s world of secure, real-time communication, leadership is never out of reach. Mr Obi knows this, but prefers posturing over pragmatism,” he added.
The APC spokesman argued that Obi’s approach diminished the gravity of governance, reducing serious issues to “sound bites and sermons designed for social media applause.”
“A statesman cannot afford to sound perpetually agitated, misinformed, or out of touch with the realities of modern leadership. What Nigeria needs is a credible, constructive opposition – not a professional complainer. No policies, no proposals, just perpetual criticism. That is not leadership. That is not patriotism. That is noise,” Oladejo stated.
He urged Obi to exercise restraint and contribute meaningfully to national discourse instead of “cheap point-scoring,” noting that silence could sometimes be the more honourable choice.
According to Oladejo, the APC under President Tinubu remains focused on reviving the economy, strengthening national security, and rebuilding public trust—“not the performance theatre of political opportunists.”
