Peter Obi criticizes Tinubu for skipping the Yelwata visit, saying that “bad roads” are not an explanation for the Benue conflict.

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for not traveling to Yelwata in Benue State, the scene of a terrible atrocity that killed over 200 people.

Obi called the president’s justification of “bad roads” intolerable and a sign of poor leadership.

Obi said in a posting on his Facebook page on Thursday that Tinubu’s incapacity to show true leadership during times of national sorrow was highlighted by his inability to get to Yelwata while being physically present in Benue.

“The willingness to take risks and make ultimate sacrifices is one of the consistent principles of leadership,” Obi said. “A true leader shows up, makes sacrifices, and offers solutions—especially during challenging times—instead of offering excuses or complaining.”

Obi questioned how the President could blame road conditions under his administration for preventing access to a community in mourning, especially when there had been sufficient time to prepare logistically following the attack.

“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable, which they are not, since his aides and security teams used them what happened to the helicopters?” Obi asked. “Are we to believe that a country with a presidential air fleet couldn’t find a way to fly the President to Yelwata to comfort grieving citizens?

The former governor of Anambra State emphasized the need of being physically present amid tragedies and emphasized that Nigerians wanted empathy rather than formalities or justifications.

“What hope is there for the average Nigerian who travels those same roads every day if the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach his citizens because of bad roads?” he asked.

Obi called for a new form of leadership that is based on action, sacrifice, and compassion in his closing remarks, denouncing what he called institutional indifference.

Excuses cannot and will not be the foundation of a New Nigeria. The sacrifices, bravery, and accountability of real leaders will serve as its foundation,” he said.