Are we to believe that Nigeria, with a full presidential air fleet, could not fly the Commander-in-Chief to Yelwata to offer condolences and solidarity with the grieving community?
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has again criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handling of the recent massacre in Benue State, especially his failure to visit Yelwata, the community directly affected by the tragic event.
Obi, in a strongly worded statement shared via his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), described the President’s actions as insensitive and symbolic of a larger leadership failure. He lamented Tinubu’s refusal to visit the massacre site, citing “bad roads” as the excuse, even after the President had already made it into the state.
“A true leader does not make excuses or complain,” Obi said. “He shows up, makes sacrifices, and offers real solutions—especially during moments of crisis. That is the essence of genuine leadership.”
The former Anambra State Governor questioned why the President, with access to the country’s resources and security apparatus, could not find a way to reach Yelwata—especially when his aides and other officials were reportedly able to traverse the area.
“Even if we accept, for a moment, that the roads were in terrible condition—which, by the way, did not stop his advance team—what happened to the presidential helicopters?” Obi asked.
“Are we to believe that Nigeria, with a full presidential air fleet, could not fly the Commander-in-Chief to Yelwata to offer condolences and solidarity with the grieving community?”
Obi emphasized that leadership is not about comfort or optics but about sacrifice and presence. He stressed that the people of Benue did not need ceremonial protocol or press statements—they needed to feel seen, heard, and supported in their darkest hour.
“Leadership means being with your people in their pain. It means showing up when it’s most difficult. That’s what citizens expect from their elected leaders, not carefully worded justifications or last-minute appearances,” Obi noted.
He also raised a fundamental question about the state of Nigeria’s infrastructure, pointing out that if the President himself cannot reach a part of his own country due to bad roads, then the situation is far worse for the average Nigerian who travels those same routes daily.
“And even more disturbing,” he continued, “is the fact that the same government now using poor road conditions as an excuse is the very one responsible for fixing those roads in the first place. If the federal and state governments cannot maintain basic infrastructure, then what message are we sending to the people about accountability and governance?”
Obi concluded his remarks with a passionate call for a new kind of leadership—one built not on excuses but on courage, responsibility, and empathy.
“A new Nigeria cannot be built on avoidance, negligence, and rationalizations. It must be founded on the sacrifices and integrity of leaders who are willing to take bold steps in the interest of their people,” he said.
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