Obi Knocks Tinubu’s UK Visit, Questions Economic Gains

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has criticised the value of recent foreign state visits by Nigerian leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, arguing that such trips must produce measurable economic outcomes for citizens.

In a statement on Saturday, Obi said diplomacy should not be treated as tourism or ceremonial display, insisting that foreign engagements must be judged by tangible results such as investment inflows, technology transfer, trade expansion and job creation.

“State visits by Leaders are not tourism, and diplomacy is not a fashion parade,” he said.

He further stressed that every international trip by government officials should deliver clear benefits to Nigerians, including factory expansion, industrial partnerships, and improved trade relations that directly impact livelihoods.

Obi cited a recent visit by former United States President Donald Trump to China, claiming it demonstrated how advanced economies align diplomacy with business outcomes.

According to him, the reported engagement included major corporate executives and resulted in large-scale commercial agreements, which he said is an example of how global powers link foreign policy to industrial growth and economic development.

He stated that such diplomatic engagements in advanced economies are often tied to measurable deals, including large-scale aircraft orders and multi-billion-dollar trade agreements, which directly impact domestic industries and employment.

Turning to Nigeria, Obi questioned the outcomes of President Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom, saying Nigerians are yet to see any clear or measurable economic gains from the trip.

He argued that in a period of economic hardship, inflation and unemployment, every foreign engagement must be justified by visible improvements in trade, investment inflows or domestic production capacity.

Obi maintained that Nigeria must shift from symbolic diplomacy to results-driven international engagement that prioritises citizens’ welfare and economic transformation.

He concluded that leadership accountability should include transparent reporting of benefits derived from foreign trips, especially at a time when Nigerians are demanding stronger economic performance and improved living standards.