The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to set an example by utilising Nigeria’s healthcare facilities for his medical needs instead of travelling abroad.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, stated that such a move would encourage Nigerians to trust the nation’s health institutions and curtail the country’s long-standing issue of medical tourism.
But the ruling All Progressives Congress warned Obi not to incite Nigerians against President Tinubu, particularly with his claim that the President had failed to address the worsening economic and security challenges in his first 18 months in charge.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Obi urged the President to consider using facilities like the National Hospital in Abuja or any of the Federal Medical Centres across the country.
“It is time for you to visit our national hospitals. For instance, consider conducting your next medical examination at one of our National Hospitals or regional FMCs in Sokoto, Birnin Kebbi, Calabar, Umuahia, or Akure, among others,” Obi said.
“This will allow you to assess the state of healthcare facilities available to Nigerians. It will also help you understand the condition of our hospitals and clinics, enabling you to make informed decisions on how to upgrade and make them more efficient.”
In the past 18 months of his administration, President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have collectively undertaken 42 trips across 27 countries, spending over 180 days abroad.
Tinubu alone has spent 124 days abroad, visiting 16 countries on 29 trips, prompting speculation that some of these trips, particularly to France, were for medical reasons.
Obi stressed the need for President Tinubu to take responsibility as a leader by addressing critical issues firsthand.
He also urged the President to travel by road to experience the state of the nation’s highways.
“You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100 km, or from Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State,” Obi suggested.
He recalled a similar instance during his tenure as governor when he took former President Olusegun Obasanjo on a federal highway trip from Awka to Onitsha.
He said, “You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100 km, or from Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State. I recall taking President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway when I was the Governor of Anambra State.
“That journey prompted him to immediately approve the reconstruction of parts of the road by the Anambra State government, with subsequent reimbursement by the federal government. Such actions are immensely valuable.
“Make both impromptu and planned visits to our tertiary institutions, where our children and future leaders are being trained, are essential to familiarize yourself with the available infrastructure, facilities, and amenities. These visits will provide valuable insight into whether the resources of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund are being utilised optimally and what is needed to sustain the education system.”
On political matters, Obi dismissed speculation about a merger with the Peoples Democratic Party or the New Nigeria People’s Party.
His clarification came two days after NNPP’s presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, denied knowledge of any such pact.
Obi emphasised that he had no formal agreement with any political party but rallied all lovers of democracy to unite and oust the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Reacting however, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC accused Obi of hypocrisy, saying his New Year’s message is ‘misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points.’
Morka emphasised that the claim portrayed the former governor as a leading ‘doomsayer’ at a time when all indicators show the country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors.
He said, “In reality, 18 months later, the economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown a steady record of progress. Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensure their fullest benefits for the transformation of our country.
“It is a thing of irony that Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.
“Like his co-travellers in the PDP, Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of the realization that Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform.
“Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around. We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”
