Benue Massacre: Tinubu Lacks Empathy, Dodged Responsibility Peter Obi Alleges
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata, the Benue community recently devastated by mass killings. Obi described Tinubu’s excuse of “bad roads” as not only flimsy but an outright failure of leadership and empathy.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi condemned what he termed the President’s “disheartening response” to the massacre, which left over 200 people dead and triggered nationwide outrage.
“Leadership is not about comfort or excuses. It is about sacrifice, presence, and responsibility especially in moments of national grief,” Obi stated.
“Bad Roads Not an Excuse” Obi Fires Back
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, questioned how the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces could cite infrastructure as a reason for not visiting his own citizens in a time of mourning.
“If the President cannot reach Nigerians because of bad roads, what hope exists for the ordinary Nigerian who plies those same roads daily without the benefit of convoys or a presidential air fleet?” he asked.
He further pointed out that members of the President’s advance team and other top aides reportedly made it to Yelwata, suggesting the road was not entirely impassable.
“There are helicopters in the presidential fleet. If roads were truly the issue, why wasn’t an airlift arranged? This isn’t about logistics it’s about priorities,” Obi stressed.
“Benue Needed Compassion, Not Excuses”
Obi argued that at such a critical time, the people of Benue did not require press releases or political ceremony, but the physical presence of their President.
“The people needed to see their president. They needed compassion, not excuses. This is about showing leadership in a time of crisis,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria cannot afford a leadership style that evades responsibility in moments of national tragedy.
“We cannot build a new Nigeria on evasion and avoidance. It must be built on truth, courage, and presence,” Obi concluded.
National Outrage Continues
President Tinubu’s visit to Benue earlier this week came days after the Yelwata massacre, but he failed to visit the affected community, citing poor road conditions. His explanation has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum and civil society, with many questioning the seriousness of his administration’s response to the deepening insecurity in the Middle Belt.
Obi’s comments add to growing concerns over the Federal Government’s handling of the crisis, particularly in states like Benue, Plateau, and Kaduna, which have seen an uptick in attacks by armed groups.
As the nation grapples with multiple security and humanitarian crises, many are now calling for not just action but accountability from its highest office.
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Benue Massacre: Tinubu Lacks Empathy, Dodged Responsibility Peter Obi Alleges