Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media, has responded to comments made by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who criticized the President’s recent diplomatic visit to Saint Lucia.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Ogra defended the trip, arguing that Obi lacked the vision to appreciate the strategic nature of such international engagements.
“Someone who failed to plan for Anambra’s future and can’t point to a lasting legacy from his administration certainly won’t understand the importance of this Caribbean trip,” Ogra wrote.
“To him, it’s a ‘holiday’. But to those who understand global politics and Nigeria’s strategic interests, it’s a masterstroke.”
Obi had earlier condemned the timing of the President’s travels, particularly in light of ongoing domestic challenges.
Speaking on Saturday, he criticized Tinubu for not visiting Minna, Niger State, where recent flooding has claimed over 200 lives and left many missing.
“This is a President going on leisure when he hasn’t visited flood-ravaged communities in Niger State,” Obi said.
“When I first heard about the Caribbean trip, I thought it was fake news. It’s hard to believe any leader would take a vacation at such a critical time.”
President Tinubu visited Saint Lucia, where he was conferred with the country’s highest national honour, before proceeding to Brazil to attend the BRICS summit.