Tinubu Presidency has knocked Peter Obi over Rwanda trip comments.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Presidency has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his remarks concerning Nigeria’s delegation to the African CEO Forum in Rwanda and comments on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign engagements, describing his position as “populism over the facts.”
Obi had argued that diplomacy should not be reduced to ceremonies or symbolic appearances, insisting that international engagements must be judged by their economic outcomes and tangible benefits to citizens.
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Reacting on Saturday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said Obi’s comments failed to reflect the true composition and objective 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 Presidency stated.
According to the statement, the delegation included top business figures such as Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu and Jim Ovia, stressing that their participation underscored the seriousness of Nigeria’s economic engagement at the forum.
The Presidency also defended President Tinubu’s foreign trips, saying the engagements are designed to secure investments, strengthen trade partnerships and improve investor confidence, rather than create “flashy headlines or staged signing ceremonies.”
“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,” the statement added.
The statement further dismissed comparisons between Nigeria’s diplomatic approach and that of the United States, arguing that such comparisons ignore differences in economic structure and global influence.
According to the Presidency, the Tinubu administration has already secured investment commitments across sectors including energy, technology, agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals through sustained international engagements.
It also highlighted reforms undertaken by the administration, including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange market unification, expansion of student loan access, increased federation allocations to states, and programmes targeting CNG adoption, manufacturing support 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 noted.
The Presidency maintained that criticisms regarding delegation size and travel arrangements were misleading, insisting that presidential trips involve constitutional, diplomatic and security responsibilities.
It added that President Tinubu remains focused on economic recovery, attracting investments and implementing reforms aimed at long-term national development.
The statement concluded with criticism of Obi’s movement across political parties over the years, urging him to reflect on the importance of consistency and stability in political commentary.
