Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over Nigeria’s absence at the ongoing Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan, describing it as a symbol of failed leadership and unfulfilled promises.
Obi, in a statement, said the empty booths allocated to Nigeria at the conference not only represent a diplomatic embarrassment but also mirror the “emptiness” that citizens have experienced at home under the current administration.
He faulted the government’s explanation that it opted for “strategic engagements” instead of full participation, dismissing it as a recycled excuse used to mask inefficiency.
According to him, the development underscores the government’s pattern of issuing misleading statistics and statements without offering real solutions to the country’s challenges.
“The empty booths in Japan are a physical reminder of the empty promises Nigerians have endured—empty hope, empty relief, and empty progress,” Obi said, adding that Nigeria must do better to regain credibility and deliver meaningful governance.
