Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu for not visiting Benue State following the massacre of over 200 people by suspected herdsmen. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning, Obi condemned the president’s absence as a clear indication that Tinubu does not value human lives.
Obi highlighted the stark contrast between Nigeria’s leadership response and those of other countries facing tragedies. He pointed to India’s prime minister, who visited the site of a deadly plane crash within hours, and South Africa’s president, who personally went to flood-affected communities to offer support and take responsibility. “That is leadership with compassion,” Obi said, “leadership that understands the value of human life.”
He lamented the lack of a presidential visit, genuine national mourning, or any leadership presence to comfort the grieving families in Benue. Obi described the situation as a normalization of leadership without empathy, accountability, or a human face in Nigeria.
Obi further recalled the recent severe flooding in Niger State that claimed nearly 200 lives, noting that the president did not visit that tragedy site either, despite it being less than an hour away by helicopter. He insisted that Nigeria needs a leader with competence, capacity, character, and compassion, warning that without such leadership, the cycle of pain and violence will continue.
In previous statements, Obi had condemned the Benue killings as a failure of leadership and a stain on the nation’s conscience, calling for urgent national emergency measures to protect lives and restore peace. He expressed solidarity with the people of Benue, urging authorities to move beyond symbolic gestures and take decisive action to secure the state.
The president’s delayed response and absence from the affected areas have sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria, with many citizens and leaders demanding stronger government accountability and immediate intervention to end the ongoing violence in Benue State.