Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has come down hard on President Bola Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata, the Benue State community rocked by a recent massacre, accusing him of offering a “flimsy excuse” to evade a duty of national empathy and leadership.
In a strongly worded statement on his X-handle Obi said leadership is not about comfort or excuses but about sacrifice, presence, and responsibility—especially in moments of national grief.
“It is deeply troubling that, following the brutal massacre in Yelwata, the President claimed he could not visit the victims due to bad roads,” Obi said. “That explanation is not only unacceptable—it is disheartening.”
Obi questioned how the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces could cite infrastructure as a barrier in a region already visited, especially when days had passed between the attack and the President’s appearance in the state.
“If the President cannot reach his own citizens because of bad roads, what hope exists for the ordinary Nigerian who plies those roads every day—without the benefit of convoys or air fleets?” Obi asked.
The former Anambra governor pointed out that presidential aides and advance staff reportedly made it to Yelwata, suggesting the route was navigable. He also noted the availability of helicopters in the presidential air fleet, asking why an airlift was not arranged if the roads were truly impassable.
“This is not about logistics—it’s about priorities,” Obi declared. “The people of Benue didn’t need protocol or press statements. They needed to see their President. They needed compassion, not excuses.”
Obi warned that Nigeria cannot afford a leadership style that evades responsibility in moments of national tragedy. “We cannot build a New Nigeria on evasion. It must be built on truth, courage, and presence.”
The former presidential contender ended his statement with his signature phrase: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”
The Presidency has yet to respond to Obi’s comments.