Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for not visiting Yelwata in Benue State, where over 200 people were massacred.
Obi condemned the President’s excuse of “bad roads” as weak and indicative of poor leadership.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Thursday, Obi said Tinubu’s inability to reach Yelwata, despite being in Benue State, reflected a failure to show leadership during a time of national mourning.
“A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times,” Obi stated.
He questioned the rationale behind blaming bad roads, especially when there had been enough time to plan for such a visit.
“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable, which they are not, since his aides and security teams used them—what happened to the helicopters?” he asked.
The former Anambra governor emphasized the importance of a leader’s physical presence during a tragedy.
“Are we to believe that a country with a presidential air fleet couldn’t find a way to fly the President to Yelwata to comfort grieving citizens?” he said.
Obi pointed out the disconnect between Tinubu’s actions and the expectations of Nigerians.
“If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach his citizens due to bad roads, what hope is there for the average Nigerian who plies those same roads every day?” he asked.
He also accused the government of institutional neglect and called for a leadership approach rooted in action and compassion.
“A New Nigeria cannot and will not be built on excuses. It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and responsibility of true leaders,” Obi said.
