Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has questioned the continued absence of Nigeria’s President amid what he described as a growing national emergency.
In a statement shared on social media on Monday, 12 January 2026, Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), raised concerns over poverty, hunger, insecurity and unemployment in the country, while asking why Nigerians have not heard directly from their President in recent weeks.
“Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” Obi asked, adding that the question was “a critical demand for accountability in a national emergency.”
He said Nigeria has entered the new year with about 140 million people living in extreme poverty, the highest number in the world. According to him, the country is also facing severe hunger, rising insecurity and unemployment affecting over 80 million young people.
Obi, now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also drew attention to Nigeria’s infant mortality rate, saying the country is “one of the worst places to be born, with infant mortality rates worse than those of a nation seven times our size.”
Questioning the President’s whereabouts, Obi claimed the President spent 196 days abroad in 2025, more time outside the country than within it. He described this as worrying, given the scale of challenges facing the nation.
“Since December 2025, Nigerians have not heard a word from their President,” Obi said. He alleged that the President chose to spend the period on holiday in Europe while Nigerians welcomed the New Year “marked by hunger, anxiety, and uncertainty”.
He criticised the absence of a New Year address or national broadcast, saying there was “no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance.”
Obi also expressed concern that Nigerians often hear about major developments from foreign sources rather than their own leader. Referring to reported U.S. military strikes on Nigerian soil, he said, “Instead of directly addressing the nation, Nigerians learned about these critical events from foreign media, American officials, and vague communications from the Presidency’s aides.”
Describing the situation as unacceptable, Obi said, “This is not governance; it’s neglect.” He also criticised the President’s appearance at international summits while remaining absent at home and recalled an incident where “an AI-generated image” was sent to Nigerians instead of a direct address.
“Are we to believe Nigeria is being governed, or is it merely being managed from elsewhere?” he asked.
Obi stressed that leadership requires visibility and direct engagement with citizens. “Leadership is not simply issuing press releases; it’s about standing before the people, engaging with them, and offering clarity,” he said.
He added that Nigerians are not demanding perfection but presence. “We are not asking for perfection; we demand presence,” Obi stated, calling for direct media briefings from the President to explain the state of the nation.
He warned that unity cannot survive without active leadership, saying, “Progress is impossible without unity and consensus, and it begins with strong leadership that sets the tone.”
Concluding his statement, Obi said the silence of leadership during a crisis is dangerous. “In a time of crisis, the absence of leadership is not just troubling; it is perilous. Silence in the face of crisis is the loudest form of failure,” he said.
He ended with a familiar message: “A New Nigeria is not just possible; it is essential.”
Tinubu not missing nor absent
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Lagos, Jan. 13, 2026
Reacting to Mr. Obi’s observations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said President Tinubu was neither missing nor absent from his duties.
The party, in a statement signed by its Lagos State Spokesman, Mr. Seye Oladejo, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the President remained fully engaged in the business of governance, both within and outside the country.
Oladejo urged political actors to focus on issues of substance rather than optics.
According to him, the president is not missing, neither is he absent from his constitutional responsibilities.
“He is actively involved in the complex and demanding work of statecraft, which includes policy coordination, security oversight, diplomatic engagements and economic reforms.
”Governance is not measured by constant public appearances or media check-ins. It is assessed by the quality of decisions taken, the policies implemented and the outcomes delivered in the national interest.”
He also said that Tinubu had continued to discharge his duties with focus and resolve, guided by the constitutional mandate given to him by Nigerians.
“His schedule and engagements are driven by national priorities, not by the need to satisfy political commentary,” he said.
Oladejo added that the Tinubu administration had remained active on several fronts, including economic reforms, security coordination and international diplomacy.
He noted that these efforts were aimed at repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth and global relevance.
He advised political leaders to engage constructively by offering ideas and alternatives that would contribute to national development, rather than raising questions that could create unnecessary public anxiety.
It would be recalled that Tinubu on Dec. 28 departed Lagos for Europe to continue his end-of-year break and in preparation for an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The president was invited by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
Tinubu on Sunday arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week which began on Monday.
