The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata, the community at the epicentre of a recent deadly attack in Benue State, during his recent trip to the state.
President Tinubu, who was in Benue on Wednesday to commiserate with victims of the violence, explained that he was unable to visit Yelwata due to “the rain, flood and bad roads.” However, Obi dismissed the explanation as inadequate and unbecoming of a leader in times of crisis.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Obi argued that leadership demands personal sacrifice and a willingness to show up regardless of the circumstances.
“One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks,” he stated. “A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times.”
While acknowledging the need to protect the president from unnecessary risk, Obi said the excuse given was unacceptable. “This visit happened days after the massacre, with enough time to plan appropriately,” he noted.
Obi also pointed out that the responsibility for maintaining infrastructure, including roads, lies squarely with both state and federal governments. He questioned why the president did not consider other means of accessing the community.
“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable — which they are not, as presidential aides and staff managed to navigate them — what happened to the use of helicopters?” Obi queried. “Are we saying a nation that boasts of a presidential air fleet could not airlift the President to Yelwata to condole with grieving citizens?”
He emphasised that the people of Benue were not looking for justifications but concrete demonstrations of empathy and leadership. “A New Nigeria cannot — and will not — be built on excuses. It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and responsibility of true leaders,” he added.
Obi also condemned the tone of the president’s visit, describing it as insensitive and poorly handled. “Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates and parents were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the president,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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