The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata community during his visit to Benue state on Wednesday, June 18.
The President had visited the state to commiserate with victims of last weekend’s attack in Yelwata community that left over 150 persons de@d. During his speech with some stakeholders in the state, the President mentioned that he aborted his visit to Yelwata community because of the ‘’rain, flood, and bad roads”.
In a statement posted on X on Friday June 20, Obi said leadership requires sacrifice and presence, especially in times of tragedy. He faulted the President for failing to visit the community and for even hinging his decision not to go on ‘’bad roads”.
“One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks. A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times.”
He said while he does not support exposing the president to monumental risks, he found his excuse unacceptable. He argued that if the road is not fit for the President’s use, how then is it okay for everyday Nigerians to use.
His statement in full reads,
‘’One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks. A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times.
“While I do not advocate for our President to expose himself to monumental risks, I cannot accept the excuse that bad roads prevented him from reaching Yelwata in Benue State—especially after he had already made it to the state. This visit happened days after the massacre, with enough time to plan appropriately.
But let’s ask the fundamental question: Who is responsible for fixing the roads if not state and the federal governments? If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach a part of his own country due to bad roads, what hope is there for the ordinary Nigerian who plies those same routes every day?
“Leadership is not about comfort; it is about sacrifice. It is about standing with your people, especially in moments of pain and tragedy. You cannot abandon your citizens in their hour of need. You don’t offer excuses when action is required.
“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable—which they are not, as presidential aides and staff managed to navigate them—what happened to the use of helicopters? Are we saying a nation that boasts of a presidential air fleet could not airlift the President to Yelwata to condole with grieving citizens?
“The people of Benue did not need protocol or explanations. They needed empathy. They needed presence. The roads may be bad, but what is worse is the institutional neglect that brought us to this point.
“A New Nigeria cannot—and will not—be built on excuses. It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and responsibility of true leaders.
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
