A frontline Journalist and Human Rights Activist , Mr Richard Akinnola has criticized the frequent foreign trips of President Muhammadu Buhari saying Nigerians didn’t elect the President as the Tourist-In- Chief.
Akinnola who is also a renowned Author argued that there were pressing national issues like Naira free-fall and lack of clear economic policy which the President must stay back home to resolve.
The Journalist wondered why Buhari must be present in virtually all assignment abroad when he has a Minister of foreign affairs.
“My good friend, Osa Director called me this afternoon and cheekily asked –“Baba Richie, where you dey? Are you in Nigeria or outside because you no dey siddon for one place”. I also mischievously retorted –“Osa Dee, my name no be Buhari nah. Na Buhari no dey siddon for Naija”.
“ And we laughed over it. But the import of my reply was not lost on us. No matter how the presidency tries to justify these foreign junkets, some of them are absolutely unnecessary, particularly this current one to the Middle East.
“What’s our strategic importance to the Middle East that your foreign Affair minister or Vice President cannot represent the President? For God’s sake, there are serious issues at hand at home desiring urgent attention. The nation’s economy is at the Intensive care unit(ICU), the Naira is on a free fall, no clear-cut economic policy, et al.
“Mr president, am a Buharist but am not blinded with fanaticism. I would criticise you where and when necessary. Mr president, enough of these junkets. We didn’t elect you as Tourist-in-Chief.”, the Ondo- born Activist wrote on his Facebook page
Last year alone, Buhari had visited Chad, Germany, France, Ghana, India, Iran, South Africa, Cameroon, Iran, and twice to the United States of America.
Recently, the President had visited London where he had a six-day vacation.
