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By Oscar Okhifo
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has come hard on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as the federal government’s indifference to the wave of killings in Benue State and the recent devastating floods in Mokwa in Niger State.
In a strongly worded statement posted via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi accused the Tinubu-led administration of showing zero empathy or any sense of urgency in responding to the tragedies that have claimed hundreds of lives in Nigeria.
He noted with surprise and sadness that despite the nearness of both tragedies to the Federal Capital Territory, the president has seen no reason to physically visit either Benue or Niger State to commiserate with victims and assess the damage firsthand.
“In Benue State, over 200 lives were lost, including security personnel. In Niger State, floods have claimed over 200 lives and displaced countless families,” Obi stated.
“Yet, we have not seen the President visit any of these locations. It shows a lack of compassion and a disconnect from the plight of ordinary Nigerians.”
Obi lamented that such tragedies have become “normalized” under the current administration, warning that this growing insensitivity poses a serious threat to national cohesion and morale.
Drawing comparisons with leaders of other countries, Obi cited recent examples in India and South Africa, where heads of state promptly visited disaster scenes to show solidarity and support for victims. He called this “leadership with compassion” something he says is lacking in Nigeria. Especially among the ruling elites.
“The lack of physical presence of our leader during national tragedies underscores the need for Nigerians to rethink what leadership means,” Obi said.
“We must begin to elect leaders based on the four ‘Cs’ Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion not religion or ethnicity.”
The former Anambra State governor warned that as long as tribal and sectional sentiments continue to shape electoral choices, Nigeria will remain trapped in a wilderness of failed leadership and that would only deepen suffering.
Obi’s comments come amid growing national outrage over the government’s handling of recent violent attacks in Benue State and the environmental disasters in other parts of the country. Will President Tinubu take this advise and visit traumatized Nigerians in their homesteads? That would be nice.