President Bola Tinubu’s recent conferment as Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia—the highest honour of the Caribbean nation—has stirred mixed emotions back home. While the presidency celebrated the recognition during a state banquet on Monday, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, issued a sobering rebuke: Nigeria, he said, is bleeding, and titles won’t stop the suffering.
The honour came as part of Tinubu’s two-nation diplomatic tour of Saint Lucia and Brazil, where he also announced the formal establishment of diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia. In his speech to the Saint Lucian Parliament, Tinubu described the move as “a symbolic bridge to foster closer ties between our nations.”
But to Obi, the trip—and the fanfare around it—feels grossly out of touch.
“While the presidency basks in the euphoria of titles in Saint Lucia, our people are being killed at home,” Obi said, lamenting that many teachers remain unpaid for years and children are out of school. “This is not a functioning nation,” he added.
Obi clarified that his criticism wasn’t aimed at the people of Saint Lucia but at the timing of Tinubu’s eight-day state visit, calling it “inappropriate and unacceptable” amid ongoing insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.
“The issue isn’t whether Saint Lucia is worthy of respect—it is,” Obi stressed. “But timing is everything, and right now, Nigeria is in turmoil. We need leadership that feels the urgency.”
The presidency, however, defended the trip, highlighting potential cultural and economic ties and hinting at follow-up engagements at the BRICS summit. Still, critics argue that beyond photo ops and ceremonial speeches, Nigerians are yet to see concrete agreements or outcomes that would translate into development.
Obi didn’t mince words: “So far, all we’ve seen is our president collecting personal honours. They know we are a country obsessed with titles, not results. We chase accolades, not progress.”
His remarks have reignited debate over the priorities of leadership in Nigeria—a country where symbolic gestures often overshadow structural solutions. As citizens continue to grapple with insecurity, inflation, and a broken education system, the question remains: Can titles abroad ease the suffering at home?
