Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential contender, has slammed President Bola Tinubu for failing to travel to Benue state in the midst of the ongoing massacres.
Obi said in a Monday morning post on X that it demonstrated Tinubu’s lack of regard for human life.
He cited instances from South Africa and India as illustrations of what effective leaders do in times of tragedy.
Tinubu’s response to the slaughter of more than 200 people by herders in Benue state has caused a great deal of indignation..
Nearly twenty-four hours after the catastrophe, the president made his remark; Pope Leo had already expressed his sympathies.
Obi wrote: “Sadly, the evidence is right before our eyes. Recently, we witnessed severe flooding in Niger State that claimed nearly 200 lives, with many still missing. Yet, not even a single presidential visit, this, in a nation where the scene of the tragedy is less than an hour away by helicopter.
“Just days ago, over 200 Nigerians, innocent men, women, children, and even soldiers were massacred in Benue State.
“Again, no presidential visit. No physical presence at the scenes of pain. No genuine national mourning. No leadership face to comfort the grieving or give hope to the people.
“Yet, we have seen what true leadership looks like elsewhere:
“In India, after a plane crash killed nearly 200 people, the Prime Minister was physically at the scene within hours.
“In South Africa, when floods claimed 78 lives, the president went personally to the affected communities, stood with them, and took responsibility.
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“That is leadership with compassion. That is leadership that understands the value of human life. But here in Nigeria, we have normalised leadership without empathy, without accountability, and without a human face.
“That is why I insist: Nigeria does not just need another president; Nigeria needs a leader, a leader with competence, capacity, character, and compassion. Until we choose leaders on these principles, the cycle of pain will only continue
