Peter Obi Criticizes Tinubu Over Benue Visit, Says Leadership not built on Excuses

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for failing to visit the Yelwata community in Benue State, following a deadly bandit attack—describing the excuse of bad roads as unacceptable.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, June 2025, Obi said that effective leadership is rooted in sacrifice, courage, and responsibility—not excuses. He condemned the President’s inability to reach the affected community, despite already being present in Benue State.

“Leadership is not about comfort,” Obi wrote. “It is about standing with your people, especially in moments of pain and tragedy. You don’t abandon your citizens in their hour of need, nor offer excuses when decisive action is required.”

Obi questioned why a helicopter was not used to reach Yelwata, stressing that the federal government should have made adequate preparations in the days following the attack. He also highlighted the contradiction in Tinubu blaming poor infrastructure—something his administration is responsible for fixing.

“If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach a part of his own country because of bad roads, what hope is there for ordinary Nigerians who face these conditions daily?” Obi asked.

The former Anambra governor emphasized that showing up during moments of national grief is not optional for leaders, and pointed to the availability of the presidential air fleet as a missed opportunity to show empathy.

“The people of Benue didn’t need protocol or explanations—they needed presence,” he said. “The roads may be bad, but the bigger failure is the long-standing institutional neglect that allowed this to happen.”

Concluding his remarks, Obi insisted that building a new Nigeria would require leaders who take responsibility, act with urgency, and stand with their people—not those who make excuses.

“A New Nigeria cannot—and will not—be built on excuses,” he wrote. “It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and accountability of true leaders.”