By TheDailyNewsHub
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Development Movement (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for a change in the way Nigeria’s president spends his vacation, arguing that the country’s leader should use the period to connect directly with Nigerians across the country.
Obi made the remark during an interview on Arise TV, where he spoke about leadership, national unity and the need for political leaders to remain connected to the realities faced by Nigerians.
According to Obi, the Nigerian president should spend vacation periods within the country rather than travelling abroad.
“Nigerian president must spend his vacation in Nigeria. He should go on vacation in Zamfara, in Borno, in Anambra,” Obi said.
He further illustrated his position with a reference to the traditional significance of Sallah, saying that if elected president, he would spend the celebration in Sokoto with the Sultan.
“As president, I will go to Sokoto and spend Sallah with the Sultan,” he said.
Obi’s comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin positioning themselves ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The former Anambra State governor has repeatedly campaigned on the need for stronger leadership, improved governance and greater connection between political leaders and ordinary citizens.
His latest remarks suggest that he would seek to make presidential engagements across Nigeria a more visible part of his administration, particularly during important cultural and religious celebrations.
The proposal also highlights the importance of national unity in a country with diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities. Spending time in different parts of the country, Obi argued, would give the president an opportunity to better understand the challenges confronting citizens while strengthening the sense of inclusion among Nigerians.
His reference to Sokoto and the Sultan also points to the role traditional institutions can play in maintaining dialogue and strengthening relationships between government and communities.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum, comments such as Obi’s are expected to form part of the broader debate over the kind of leadership Nigerians want and how political office holders should relate to citizens.
TheDailyNewsHub will continue to report on emerging policy proposals and campaign positions from presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.