President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to Accra, Ghana, on Monday, January 6, 2025, to witness the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Sunday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
Mahama, who previously served as Ghana’s president from 2011 to 2017, was reelected in December 2024, succeeding President Nana Akufo-Addo. Tinubu’s visit follows an invitation from Mahama, who met with the Nigerian leader in December 2024.
As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu will join other African leaders at the ceremony, emphasizing the strong bilateral ties between Nigeria and Ghana. He will be accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other senior government officials. This marks Tinubu’s first foreign trip of 2025, following 33 international trips between June 2023 and December 2024.
Obi Challenges Tinubu on Local Healthcare and Infrastructure Use
Meanwhile, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called on President Tinubu to set an example by using Nigeria’s healthcare facilities for his medical needs, urging the president to address the nation’s medical tourism issue. Obi also advocated for road travel to experience the state of Nigeria’s highways firsthand, suggesting trips like Calabar to Uyo or Benin to Warri.
Drawing from his time as Governor of Anambra State, Obi recounted taking former President Olusegun Obasanjo on a similar tour, which led to the reconstruction of critical road infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of impromptu visits to educational and healthcare institutions to assess their needs and improve their standards.
APC Responds to Obi’s Criticism
In a rebuttal, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed Obi’s remarks as politically motivated. APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka accused Obi of inciting public dissatisfaction and spreading pessimism, despite what the party described as the Tinubu administration’s significant strides in economic and infrastructural reforms under the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Morka further criticized Obi’s tenure as governor, claiming it lacked transformative achievements, and urged Nigerians to remain optimistic about the current administration’s ongoing reforms.
No Merger Talks, Says Obi
Addressing speculation about a potential merger with other political parties, Obi clarified that he has no formal agreements with any group but called for unity among pro-democracy advocates to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections. His statement came after NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso also denied knowledge of any merger discussions.
