Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has openly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata, a community in Benue State plagued by recent violent attacks, during his official trip to the state. Obi described the president’s excuse of poor road infrastructure as insufficient and insensitive, given the gravity of the crisis facing the residents of the area.
In a statement issued on Thursday and shared via his verified social media channels, Obi expressed disappointment that President Tinubu, despite being in close proximity during his state visit, did not consider it a priority to commiserate directly with victims and families affected by the sustained violence in Yelwata. The former Anambra State governor noted that true leadership requires empathy and presence, especially in moments of tragedy.
Yelwata, located in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, with scores of lives lost and hundreds displaced due to clashes attributed to armed herders and other criminal elements. Residents and community leaders have persistently called for federal intervention, lamenting what they describe as neglect and slow response by authorities.
President Tinubu was in Benue earlier in the week for a series of engagements, including commissioning projects and holding talks with political leaders. However, his itinerary did not include a stop in Yelwata, despite the heightened security concerns and widespread calls for a presidential visit to the troubled zone.
Obi questioned the rationale behind citing bad roads as a reason for avoiding the area, arguing that leadership should never be deterred by infrastructure challenges when lives are at stake. “If the roads to where people are dying are too bad for a presidential convoy, how do you think the people themselves are surviving there?” he queried.
He further stated that in a nation where citizens are facing increasing threats from insecurity, particularly in rural communities, the presence of the Commander-in-Chief, even symbolically, can offer a much-needed sense of hope and assurance. Obi urged President Tinubu to adopt a more compassionate and people-centred approach in his engagements, especially in regions affected by violence and displacement.
The criticism comes amid growing concerns over the federal government’s response to security challenges across Nigeria, with many calling for greater accountability and faster interventions in affected communities. Human rights groups and civil society organisations have echoed Obi’s sentiments, stressing the need for the presidency to be visibly and actively involved in addressing the root causes of the crisis in Benue and other parts of the Middle Belt.
As tensions remain high in Yelwata and surrounding communities, Obi’s remarks have added to the national discourse on governance, empathy, and the responsibilities of leadership in times of distress.
