Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata in Benue State, where over 200 residents were reportedly killed in a brutal attack.
Obi described the President’s explanation — citing poor road conditions as the reason for his absence — as untenable and a reflection of weak, uninspired leadership.
In a statement published Thursday via his official Facebook page, Obi criticised the President for not showing up at a time when national compassion and solidarity were most needed. He noted that Tinubu was already in Benue State but failed to make the short trip to Yelwata, where grieving families awaited a gesture of empathy from the nation’s highest office.
“True leadership demands sacrifice and courage, especially in difficult moments,” Obi stated. “Excuses do not heal wounds. Presence does. A real leader does not complain — he shows up, consoles, and offers direction.”
He further questioned the logic of citing road inaccessibility when presidential aides and security operatives had reportedly accessed the area. Obi pointedly asked why the presidential fleet was not deployed if ground transportation posed a genuine challenge.
“Even if we concede the roads were in poor condition — and reports suggest otherwise — what happened to the helicopters? Is it now acceptable that the President of Nigeria cannot reach his own people during one of their darkest hours?”
Drawing attention to the symbolism of a leader’s presence during national tragedy, Obi warned that failing to show up communicates indifference and abandonment.
“If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach his citizens because of bad roads, what hope remains for ordinary Nigerians who must navigate these same roads daily without security or support?” he queried.
Obi concluded by decrying what he termed institutional failure and reiterated the need for a new standard of leadership — one built on visible compassion, responsibility, and a proactive approach to national duty.
“A New Nigeria cannot be founded on excuses. It must be built on courage, accountability, and the selfless resolve of leaders who place the people first,” he declared.
