Obi faults Tinubu for aborting Yelewata trip over bad roads, says leadership is about sacrifice

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to visit Yelewata in Benue state in the wake of a deadly attack on the community.

On Wednesday, Tinubu, who had just touched down in Benue to commiserate with victims of the tragedy, said he could not visit Yelewata, epicentre of the massacre, because of “the rain, flood and bad roads”.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, Obi said leadership requires sacrifice and presence, especially in times of tragedy.

“One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks,” he said.

“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.

“This visit happened days after the massacre, with enough time to plan appropriately,” he said.

Obi also said the responsibility for fixing decrepit roads lies with state and 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?” he asked.

“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.”

He added that the president could have explored alternatives.

“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?” he said.

“Are we saying a nation that boasts of a presidential air fleet could not airlift the President to Yelwata to condole with grieving citizens?”

Obi added that the people of Benue did not need explanations.

“The people of Benue did not need protocol or explanations. They needed empathy. They needed presence,” he said.

“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.”

On Thursday, Obi criticised Tinubu for “turning his condolence visit to Benue into a fanfare”.

He said the president’s choice of attire and the atmosphere around his visit did not reflect the gravity of the tragedies that struck Benue and Niger states.

Obi had earlier berated the Benue state government for declaring a public holiday and shutting down schools for Tinubu’s visit.

“Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates and parents were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the president,” he said.