Presidency fires back at Peter Obi, defends Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia

The Presidency has clapped back at critics of President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to Saint Lucia, particularly Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who earlier slammed the visit as insensitive and ill-timed.

In a strongly worded press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described Obi’s criticism as a “misguided, mischievous, and uninformed” take on what it insists is a state visit of high diplomatic importance.

“This is not the time for holidaying,” Obi had said, condemning Tinubu for travelling abroad at a time when Nigeria is grappling with insecurity, hunger, and deadly flooding. But the Presidency insists the trip is anything but a leisure getaway.

“The visit paves the way for rekindling ancestral bonds and opens up new avenues for economic, cultural and diplomatic collaboration between Nigeria and Saint Lucia,” the statement read.

According to the release, Saint Lucia, which is home to many descendants of Nigerians who migrated during the 19th century, sees the visit as a chance to reconnect with their African roots.

It went further to state that the Caribbean nation holds a special place in the region as the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and a gateway to the 15-member CARICOM bloc with a combined GDP of over $130 billion.

The Presidency also highlighted Nigeria’s historical links to the island, pointing out that Saint Lucian-born jurist Sir Darnley Alexander once served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice, and his son Michael fought in the Nigerian Civil War as a frontline doctor.

Tinubu’s visit, the statement added, aligns with Nigeria’s foreign policy framework built on the “Four Ds” ( Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography).

While in Saint Lucia, the President is expected to address a special joint session of the island’s bi-cameral parliament, visit Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, and attend a reception hosted by the Prime Minister where he will meet members of the Nigerian community on the island.

The statement also noted that the popular Gros Islet street party held every Friday for over 50 years was dominated by Afrobeats ahead of Tinubu’s arrival.

Recalling the rarity of such high-level diplomatic events, Onanuga said Tinubu’s visit is only the second by an African leader to Saint Lucia since Nelson Mandela in 1998.

“President Tinubu’s visit is a historic diplomatic milestone, not a luxury trip,” Onanuga stressed, urging critics to look beyond petty politics and appreciate the bigger picture of renewed international cooperation.

The statement concluded by reaffirming the President’s commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s youthful population for global partnerships, especially in education and innovation, through initiatives like the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.