2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for not visiting Yelwata, Benue State, where over 200 people were recently killed in a brutal attack.
In a post shared on Facebook Thursday, Obi faulted the President’s explanation that “bad roads” prevented him from visiting the grieving community, describing it as an unacceptable excuse and a sign of poor leadership.
Obi argued that despite being in Benue State, President Tinubu’s inability to reach Yelwata demonstrated a failure to fulfill the most basic expectations of leadership during national tragedy.
“One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks,” Obi stated. “A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times.”
He further questioned how a sitting President could blame road conditions—under his own government—for not visiting mourning citizens, especially given the time available to prepare.
“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable, which they are not, since his aides and security teams used them what happened to the helicopters?” Obi asked. “Are we to believe that a country with a presidential air fleet couldn’t find a way to fly the President to Yelwata to comfort grieving citizens?”
Obi emphasized that Nigerians expect compassion and presence from their leaders during painful moments—not protocol or excuses.
“If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach his citizens due to bad roads, what hope is there for the average Nigerian who plies those same roads every day?” he said.
He ended his statement by decrying the institutional failure to act and advocating for a new style of leadership grounded in genuine care, courage, and responsibility.
“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 stated.