Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu over the nature of his recent visit to Benue State, accusing the president of prioritizing political optics over genuine empathy for victims of recent attacks.
Obi’s comments follow the latest wave of violence in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where about 200 people were reportedly killed in attacks blamed on armed herders allegedly seeking control of farmlands.
President Tinubu visited the state on Tuesday, where he promised to address the crisis. However, Obi expressed dismay at how the condolence visit was handled, describing it as a “carnival” rather than a solemn occasion to mourn the dead and console grieving families.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Obi wrote:
“What has happened to our compassion as a people? We pleaded that the President should show leadership by visiting Benue and Niger States in a spirit of deep national mourning, to offer solidarity to families torn apart by the senseless massacre of over 200 innocent Nigerians and the flood victims in Niger State.”
The former Anambra State governor lamented that rather than a reflective visit, the occasion was marked by celebratory displays more befitting of a commissioning event.
“The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, as if it was an occasion for joy. Even more heartbreaking was the role of the state government. Schools were shut down, and children who should be mourning their classmates and parents were lined up under the rain to sing and dance for the President,” Obi stated.
He decried the trend of turning condolence visits into public fanfare, noting that such incidents demand silence, solemnity, and decisive action, not banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles.
Obi also drew comparisons with other world leaders, citing how South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood victims in Mthatha without fanfare, and how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi quietly mourned victims of a tragic crash without organized crowds.
“Enough of this culture of impunity. We are not at war, yet our nation is bleeding and we are clapping. It is not only insensitive, it is dangerous,” Obi warned.
He urged Nigerian leaders to prioritize compassion and decisive action in times of tragedy, insisting that the country must not lose its moral compass.
“When very sad incidents like this turn to campaign or festival, our nation is losing its soul. A new Nigeria is possible,” he concluded.
