“Don’t Spend Public Funds on Private Trips”: Peter Obi Knocks Tinubu Over Visit to France

• The LP flagbearer, Peter Obi, has sent an important message to President Tinubu over his foreign trips
• Obi reminded Tinubu of his position, noting that he was "now a public national asset" and his private trips should be funded from his purse
• The former governor made this assertion while reacting to Tinubu's private visit to France

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential elections, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his funds for private trips as part of the cost-cutting measures desperately needed by the nation.

Obi made this statement in a series of posts shared on his X account on Thursday, January 25.

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Recall that President Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, France, on a private visit on Wednesday, January 24.

The president's special assistant on social media, Dada Olusegun, confirmed this via a social media post on his X handle. The president is expected to return to the country in the first week of February 2024.

Reacting, the former governor of Anambra state, who had earlier warned Tinubu against repeating Buhari's failure, tweeted:

"I have been wondering what is private for a sitting president who is not on vacation to embark on a publicly funded ‘private’ visit. May I humbly remind the president that he is now a public national asset.

"Therefore, all his movements now should be public knowledge and matters of public interest. Even when he needs a private visit like a holiday, family gathering, etc, he should state so, which is graciously allowed, but private visits, like the one he has embarked on now, should be done at his expense and not at public cost."

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The presidential hopeful, however, acknowledged some efforts by Tinubu to cut costs, like his recent 60% cost on travel. He maintained that it was still insignificant because other problems were waiting to be tackled, like the elevator issue in the nation's airports.

PDP, LP question Tinubu's France private visit

Obi is not the only one who has voiced his concerns about Tinubu's trip. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy national publicity secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said it was the worst time for President Bola Tinubu to embark on a foreign trip because of the insecurity and the state of the nation's economy.

On the other hand, the LP spokesman for the 2023 presidential campaign council, Yunusa Tanko, alleged that there was a hidden agenda for the trip and said Tinubu was sick.

During a phone interview with Ounch, Abdullahi said a report had it that Tinubu went for medical treatment in Paris because that was where his doctors were.

Source: Legit.ng