Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for not visiting Yelewata, a Benue State community where suspected armed herdsmen killed villagers. In a statement shared on his X account, Obi emphasized that true leadership requires sacrifice and action, not excuses. He argued that leaders must prioritize citizens’ safety and show empathy during times of tragedy. Obi questioned why Tinubu, who was already in Benue days after the massacre, did not visit Yelewata, dismissing claims of impassable roads as unacceptable. He noted that presidential aides navigated the same routes and suggested helicopters from the presidential air fleet could have been used. Obi stressed that the government is responsible for fixing roads, highlighting that ordinary Nigerians face these poor conditions daily. He called for leadership that stands with people in their pain, not one that offers explanations. Obi concluded that a better Nigeria depends on courageous and responsible leaders, not excuses.
