The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu over his repeated overseas trips, describing them as insensitive and a reflection of the government’s lack of confidence in Nigeria’s health care system.
The backlash followed an announcement on Thursday by the Presidency that Tinubu would embark on a 10-day vacation in Europe. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the trip is scheduled to last for 10 working days.
Reacting to the development, PDP Deputy Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor expressed concern over the financial and political implications of the president’s travels. In an interview with Punch, Osadolor argued that the trips amount to wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money and send a damaging signal about the state of the nation’s medical facilities.
He stated that the billions of naira allocated annually to the Aso Rock Clinic raise questions about why the president has not been reported to use the facility. Osadolor remarked that Nigerians have never heard of Tinubu undergoing even a routine check-up or basic treatment at the presidential clinic, but instead hear reports of him travelling abroad, particularly to countries such as France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
According to him, these actions suggest the president does not trust the same health system ordinary Nigerians are forced to rely upon. He described this pattern as insensitive, especially at a time when citizens are facing economic hardship and struggling to access quality health care.
Osadolor further criticised the government for failing to invest in building world-class medical facilities across the country. He noted that despite annual budgetary allocations to health care, there has been no visible progress under Tinubu’s administration two years into its tenure.
The PDP youth leader also questioned the government’s priorities, pointing out that large sums would be spent not only on the president’s treatment abroad but also on estacodes, travel costs, and expenses for his caregivers and entourage. He described these expenditures as a burden on public finances and a sign of disregard for the struggles of ordinary citizens.
In his remarks, Osadolor urged President Tinubu to refrain from seeking re-election in 2027, insisting that the current administration has shown it lacks the capacity to provide affordable health care and security. He urged Nigerians to reject both Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the next polls.
He argued that the government owes Nigerians an apology for what he described as its “insensitivity and incapacities.” He added that citizens should use the next election cycle as an opportunity to elect a credible alternative capable of delivering better services.
Osadolor stressed that after two years in office, the administration had not recorded any notable achievements in the health sector. For him, this absence of progress should serve as enough reason for Nigerians to demand a change in leadership.
The criticism from the PDP underscores a growing political debate about governance, accountability, and priorities in the use of public funds. It also highlights broader concerns about Nigeria’s health system, which many argue remains underfunded and overstretched despite years of promises and allocations.
