A pro-democracy group, the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu, insisting that his recent visit to the United Kingdom did not yield any meaningful benefits for Nigeria or its citizens.
In a statement made available to journalists in Owerri, the group described Tinubu’s trip to the United Kingdom as a mere jamboree and a waste of scarce national resources.
“We at the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), after a critical review of President Tinubu’s just-concluded visit to the United Kingdom, regretfully observe that the trip was nothing more than a jamboree and a waste of scarce resources,” said Comrade Julian Uka, the group’s publicity secretary, in the press release.
He added, “We maintain this position because, from all indications, we have yet to read about any meaningful discussions between our president and his UK host that focused on how Britain could assist Nigeria in tackling insecurity, economic hardship, and unemployment. These are pressing issues affecting the country’s stability, yet they were not, to the best of our knowledge, prioritized.”
The CGG also criticized the timing of the trip, describing it as ill-advised given the security challenges facing the nation.
“It is unfortunate that the president chose to embark on a foreign trip at a time the country was in turmoil. Before his departure, Borno State was facing intense security challenges, Kwara State was under serious threat from terrorist activities, while Bauchi State was grappling with criminal elements. Across the country, kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of criminality were occurring with alarming frequency and impunity.”
The statement continued, “Given the situation, we had expected that the visit would address urgent socioeconomic and political concerns. However, this was not the case. Reports and images from the trip suggest that the visit was largely ceremonial, with little attention paid to Nigeria’s pressing challenges. This is deeply regrettable.”
The group therefore urged the president to avoid what it described as unnecessary foreign trips in the future.
“Our candid advice to President Tinubu is that he should refrain from leaving the country when it is facing serious challenges. As the saying goes, the buck stops at the president’s table. He must be seen to be actively addressing the nation’s problems rather than embarking on overseas visits of questionable value.”
The CGG further called on the president to focus on resolving the country’s economic and social difficulties.
“Nigeria is currently at a crossroads. The economic hardship is so severe that many citizens are struggling to feed themselves, pay school fees, and meet basic needs. Indeed, times are difficult, and the president must not only address these issues but resolve them decisively.”