The African Democratic Congress has blasted the “alarming frequency” of President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trips.
The party recently warned that his repeated absences is coming at a time when leadership at home is needed more than ever.
Reacting to Tinubu’s latest two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil, with a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ADC, via its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said that the journey will make it his 40th foreign trip since assuming office.
According to him, Nigeria’s president spending a cumulative total of around 181 days abroad is way over the top because it is the equivalent of almost 6 full months.
He stated that since Tinubu was named president in 2023, he has spent almost 25% of his time outside the nation.
“Today, President Tinubu will depart Abuja for yet another foreign tour.
By public records, this will be the President’s 40th foreign trip since assuming office, spending a cumulative total of around 181 days abroad, the equivalent of almost six full months.
This means that in the 26 months he has been President, nearly 25% of his time has been spent outside the country,” he said.
Bolaji further noted that it is a shame that BAT never hesitates to travel abroad when he has yet to set foot in several Nigerian states.
He concluded by saying that frequent flying only portrays the image of a president who no longer cares about what the people think or feel.
“Since his inaguaration, President Tinubu has only visited 13 out of 36 States, but has visited more foreign countries during the same period. This is not good.
There are no real economic gains for the junkets despite the billions of Naira spent per day and per trip.
Benue to Zamfara and other parts of our country, taxes are being imposed by bandits, citizens are being slaughtered in their homes, millions are facing economic hardship and the population of malnourished children has continued to grow.
Nigerians expect their President to be on ground to provide leadership, empathy, and direction.
However, it would appear that the President thinks that there are more serious problems for him to solve outside the country or he believes the solutions to the many troubles we face at home could actually be found on these trips abroad.”
