Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, describing it as a tone-deaf and performative spectacle that belied the tragic circumstances on the ground.
In a strongly worded post on his verified X handle Thursday, Obi expressed outrage over what he called a “fanfare” disguised as a condolence visit, questioning both the optics and the intent of the President’s appearance in a state still reeling from mass killings.
“What we saw in the Benue visit was not a solemn, reflective occasion, but a display that would have been more befitting for the commissioning of a major infrastructure project,” Obi said. “The President arrived not in mourning attire, but in celebratory Agbada—as though the visit was one of joy, not sorrow.”
Obi argued that in the wake of such a grave tragedy—where scores of innocent Nigerians were killed—the President’s conduct and dress should have communicated deep mourning and solidarity, not indifference.
He further berated Governor Hyacinth Alia and the state authorities for staging what he described as an “insensitive and rehearsed spectacle,” which included lining up schoolchildren and grieving families in the rain to welcome the President.
“Even more heartbreaking is the role of the State,” Obi said. “Rather than a day of prayer or reflection, the government declared a public holiday to organise a fanfare. Schools were shut down. Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates, and parents who have lost loved ones, were forced to sing and dance under the rain. In what kind of country does this happen?”
Obi’s criticism comes as public discontent grows over the perceived trivialisation of security failures across the country. The Benue and Niger killings have sparked nationwide calls for accountability, justice, and more humane governance.
“The gravity of what happened in Benue and Niger requires empathy, humility, and action—not staged performances,” Obi concluded.