Obi to Tinubu: Emulate Ramaphosa, visit flood victims in states

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has asked President Bola Tinubu to visit flood-ravaged communities in Niger state.

In a post on X, Obi commended Tinubu for saying he would visit Benue on Wednesday, following an upsurge in killings in the north-central state.

“It was refreshing news on Monday to a bewildered nation learning that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally decided to visit the scene of the brutal killings in Benue state,” he wrote.

“For this I thank him, even as I make further request that similar gesture should be extended to Niger state that lost more number of human lives in a natural disaster, flood recently.”

Obi said visiting affected communities promptly would show genuine concern and convey urgency on the part of the presidency.

“Given the emergency nature of these incidents, a prompt visit would have delivered the urgency needed, instead of giving future dates that makes it look like a state visit,” he said.

He added that Tinubu’s physical presence would be “reassuring and uplifting” to communities mourning their dead.

Obi said Benue and Niger states have lost more than 200 lives each in recent times.

“In Mokwa alone, more than 200 people were confirmed dead, and over 1,000 are still missing following the floods,” he said.

“These are not just statistics; they are the lives of Nigerian families torn apart and their communities destroyed.”

Obi said the president should be encouraged by the short travel distances to the disaster zones.

“The distance from Abuja to Makurdi is about 282 km, and Abuja to Mokwa is about 287 km,” he said.

“Combined, that’s roughly 1,134 km for a round trip to both locations, still significantly less than the 1,870 km round trip President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa recently made from Pretoria to Mthatha to personally visit flood victims in his country.”

Obi noted that fewer than 100 persons died in Mthatha, compared to more than 200 deaths and over 1,000 missing in Mokwa.

“If the South African president could do it, we trust that you, as our own president, can do the same for your people,” he said.

He urged Tinubu to use a visit to Mokwa to send a clear message that “all Nigerian lives matter” and no community is forgotten.

Obi also appealed for improved security in vulnerable and disaster-prone areas.

“We look forward to seeing not leadership by remote control but proactive leadership that responds not just with words, but with compassion and action,” he added.

KILLING SPREE

On Monday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked Tinubu to end the killings in Benue immediately.

The north-central state has experienced renewed attacks by gunmen, with reports of killings occurring almost weekly.

On June 14, over 100 people were killed in attacks by suspected herdsmen in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma LGA of the state.

The death toll from the killings reportedly rose to 200 on Sunday, triggering nationwide outrage.

In a statement, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, alleged that Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are “overwhelmed and have abandoned” the security of citizens.