Saint Lucia/Abuja – June 29, 2025 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia has drawn both official commendation and sharp criticism, as the Presidency firmly asserts the trip’s diplomatic importance while opposition figures, notably Peter Obi, question its timing amidst pressing national challenges.
The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has clarified that President Tinubu’s visit to the Caribbean nation is a strategic diplomatic engagement aimed at rekindling ancestral and strategic ties with Saint Lucia and the wider CARICOM (Caribbean Community) bloc. This explanation comes in response to accusations, particularly from Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, who described the trip as “ill-timed and insensitive” and akin to a “personal vacation” while Nigeria grapples with severe insecurity, hunger, and natural disasters.
According to the Presidency, the visit is a “historic diplomatic milestone,” being only the second official state visit by an African Head of State to Saint Lucia since its independence in 1979, the last being by Nelson Mandela in 1998. The visit aligns with Nigeria’s “Four D’s” foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography. It aims to foster South-South cooperation, deepen educational partnerships, and strengthen cultural exchange, recognizing the significant population of African ancestry in Saint Lucia with historical migration from Nigeria.
During his visit, President Tinubu is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on the Governor-General and Prime Minister Philip Pierre, and will address a special joint session of Saint Lucia’s Senate and House of Assembly. He is also expected to hold a high-level working luncheon with the Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to discuss economic partnerships and cultural solidarity. A visit to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Castries is also on the itinerary, emphasizing educational collaboration.
Peter Obi, however, has vehemently argued that the President’s trip reflects a misplaced priority and detachment from the suffering of millions of Nigerians. In a strongly worded statement, Obi questioned how the President could embark on a foreign trip for leisure when the nation is battling widespread hunger, worsening insecurity with a high number of casualties, and the aftermath of devastating natural disasters like the recent floods in Minna, Niger State, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives and left hundreds missing. He further criticized what he termed the President’s “political jamboree” in Benue State as lacking genuine compassion.
Despite the criticism, the Presidency maintains that the visit is strategic, with Saint Lucia serving as the headquarters of the OECS and a gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states, which collectively boast a GDP of over $130 billion. The historical ties, including notable Saint Lucians like Sir Darnley Alexander who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice, are also highlighted as a basis for strengthening bonds.
Following his engagements in Saint Lucia, President Tinubu is set to travel to Brazil to participate in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 6-7, further underscoring the diplomatic and economic priorities of his foreign engagements.
