Presidency knocks Peter Obi over criticism of Tinubu’s Rwanda trip

The Presidency has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his comments on Nigeria’s participation at the African CEO Forum in Rwanda and President Bola Tinubu’s foreign engagements, accusing him of placing “populism over the facts.”

 

Obi had argued that diplomacy should not be reduced to ceremonial appearances or symbolic outings, insisting that international engagements must be judged by their economic impact and measurable benefits to citizens.

 

Reacting on Saturday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, defended the composition and purpose of Nigeria’s delegation to the Kigali forum.

 

“It is always populism over the facts for Mr Peter Obi, but it is important to put it out there that the Nigerian entourage to the African CEO Forum in Rwanda was made up of some of Nigeria’s industrial leaders,” the statement read.

 

The Presidency listed members of the delegation to include business figures such as Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu and Jim Ovia, saying their presence reflected Nigeria’s serious economic and investment interests at the forum.

 

The statement further defended President Tinubu’s foreign trips, describing them as strategic engagements focused on attracting investment, deepening trade relations and boosting investor confidence.

 

“Real diplomacy goes much deeper. It is about strategic dialogue, building investor confidence, strengthening security cooperation, advancing trade discussions, and positioning the country for long-term economic gain, which President Tinubu did all of and more in Kigali and several other state visits,” it added.

 

The Presidency also rejected comparisons between Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts and those of the United States, arguing that such comparisons ignored differences in economic scale and global influence.

 

According to the statement, the Tinubu administration has secured investment commitments across sectors including energy, technology, agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals through sustained international engagements.

 

It also highlighted policy reforms introduced by the administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market, expansion of student loan access, increased federation allocations to states, and interventions in compressed natural gas, manufacturing and food security.

 

“Diplomacy is not a reality TV show where every engagement must end in staged photo-ops before it is considered meaningful,” the statement said.

 

The Presidency further dismissed criticisms surrounding delegation size and presidential travel arrangements, insisting that such trips involve constitutional, diplomatic and security obligations.

 

It maintained that President Tinubu remains committed to economic recovery, institutional reforms and long-term national development.

 

The statement concluded with a swipe at Obi over his movement across political parties in recent years, while urging him to reflect on the importance of consistency and stability in political commentary.