Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom, questioning the economic value of the trip to Nigerians.
Obi, in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday, said foreign trips by government officials should produce measurable benefits such as investments, industrial partnerships, technology transfer, factory expansion and job creation.
The former presidential candidate argued that diplomacy should focus on economic growth and national productivity rather than political optics.
According to him, serious nations align foreign policy with economic expansion and industrial development.
Obi compared Tinubu’s UK visit with what he described as United States President Donald Trump’s recent visit to China, which reportedly included leading government officials and major business executives.
He claimed that the US delegation secured multi-billion-dollar trade agreements, including about 200 Boeing aircraft orders.
Obi listed several global business figures he said were part of the American delegation, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg.
He said the approach demonstrated how developed nations pursue diplomacy with clear economic objectives tied to investment, trade and innovation.
Turning to Nigeria’s delegation, Obi said many Nigerians were still asking what concrete benefits emerged from the UK trip.
He questioned whether the visit secured new factories, technology partnerships, manufacturing agreements, agricultural investments or employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“A large entourage of politicians, aides, and government officials travelled, yet Nigerians are still asking a simple question: what exactly did Nigeria bring home?” Obi wrote.
The former governor also listed members of the Nigerian delegation, which he claimed included President Tinubu, the First Lady, 12 governors, nine ministers, seven National Assembly members, senior State House officials, security personnel and domestic staff.
Obi criticised what he described as excessive focus on ceremony and symbolism during foreign engagements.
“It is not enough to ride horses, wear matching uniforms, attend royal banquets, and release glossy photographs. Symbolism without substance cannot feed hungry citizens,” he stated.
He added that Nigeria was currently facing serious economic and security challenges, including inflation, unemployment, food insecurity, declining industrial productivity and poverty.
According to Obi, every public expenditure on foreign trips should result in visible economic outcomes that improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
He said Nigeria needs leadership that prioritises productivity, economic development and measurable results over ceremonial appearances.
Obi ended the statement with his popular slogan, “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
