Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, has asked President Bola Tinubu to have his next medical checkup at a federal hospital to assess the condition of public healthcare facilities.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, criticised Tinubu for spending a significant portion of his presidency abroad.
“Mr. President, out of the approximately 580 days you have been in office, it is reported that you have spent over 30%, or around 180 days, on more than 30 publicly recorded overseas trips,” Obi said.
“My appeal is that you dedicate at least 20% of 2025 – roughly 72 days – to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each.
“It is time for you to visit our national hospitals. Consider, for example, that your next medical examination be conducted at one of our National Hospitals or Regional Federal Medical Centres, such as the FMC in Sokoto or Birnin Kebbi or Calabar or Umuahia or Akure, among others.
“This will allow you to assess the state of healthcare facilities available to Nigerians. It will also help you understand the condition of our hospitals and clinics, enabling you to make informed decisions on how to upgrade and make them efficient.”
Obi further advised Tinubu to make impromptu and planned visits to tertiary institutions to evaluate their infrastructure and amenities.
He stressed the importance of seeing firsthand whether the resources allocated through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are being effectively utilised.
“Endeavour to travel by road to observe the condition of most highways. You can take short trips, for example, from Calabar in Cross River State to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, a distance of less than 100 km, or from Benin in Edo State to Warri in Delta State,” he said.
“I recall taking President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from Awka to Onitsha on a federal highway when I was the Governor of Anambra State.
“That journey prompted him to immediately approve the reconstruction of parts of the road by the Anambra State government, with subsequent reimbursement by the federal government.
“Such actions are immensely valuable. Make both impromptu and planned visits to our tertiary institutions, where our children and future leaders are being trained, are essential to familiarize yourself with the available infrastructure, facilities, and amenities.
“Such visits will provide valuable insight into whether the resources of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are being utilised optimally and what is needed to sustain the education system.”
The former governor recalled that former President Shehu Shagari’s visit to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, during his student days, led to significant improvements in institutional facilities.
Obi also advised Tinubu to visit military formations and security agencies during field operations to boost morale and ensure operational efficiency.
