The Presidency has reacted strongly to remarks by former presidential candidate Peter Obi concerning Nigeria’s participation at the African CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, as well as President Bola Tinubu’s broader foreign trips, dismissing his comments as misleading and populist in nature.

Obi had argued that diplomatic engagements should not be reduced to ceremonies or symbolic appearances, insisting that such foreign trips must be judged based on their tangible economic outcomes and direct benefits to citizens.

Responding on Saturday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said Obi’s assessment failed to reflect the true purpose and composition of Nigeria’s delegation to the forum.

He stated that the Nigerian team at the Kigali event included some of the country’s leading industrialists, stressing that their presence demonstrated the seriousness of Nigeria’s engagement.

Among those listed in the delegation were prominent business figures including Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu, and Jim Ovia.

The Presidency also defended President Tinubu’s foreign engagements, arguing that they are aimed at attracting investment, strengthening trade relations, and boosting economic confidence rather than producing symbolic publicity or ceremonial photo opportunities.

According to the statement, real diplomacy involves strategic discussions, investor engagement, security cooperation, and long-term economic planning, all of which it said were evident in the President’s activities in Kigali and other international visits.

The Presidency also rejected comparisons between Nigeria’s diplomatic approach and that of other global powers such as the United States, saying such comparisons ignore differences in economic structure and global influence.

It further claimed that the Tinubu administration has secured investment commitments across key sectors including energy, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and solid minerals through sustained international outreach.

Listing ongoing reforms, the statement highlighted policies such as fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange market unification, expanded student loan access, increased allocations to subnational governments, and initiatives in gas-powered transport, food security, and industrial development.

It added that diplomacy should not be judged by optics or the size of delegations but by long-term national economic impact.

The Presidency also described criticism of official travel arrangements and delegation size as misleading, insisting that presidential engagements abroad are tied to constitutional duties and diplomatic responsibilities.

The statement concluded with a political remark directed at Obi, referencing his past political affiliations and urging consistency and stability in public commentary on governance issues.