President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Peter Obi

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as a delayed and selective response to national tragedies.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle today, Obi acknowledged President Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Benue State following a deadly attack in the Yelewata community but called for equal attention to be paid to Niger State, where devastating floods have claimed over 200 lives and left more than 1,000 people missing, particularly in the Mokwa area.

“It was refreshing news on Monday to a bewildered nation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally decided to visit the scene of the brutal killings in Benue State. For this, I thank him,” Obi stated.

However, he urged the president to demonstrate the same level of empathy and urgency towards victims of natural disasters, especially in Niger State. “Given the emergency nature of these incidents, a prompt visit would have delivered the urgency needed, rather than future dates that make it look like a ceremonial state visit,” he said.

Obi emphasised that presidential visits to disaster-affected areas can offer psychological relief and hope to grieving communities. According to him, both Benue and Niger states have suffered significant human losses that require equal national attention.

“In Mokwa alone, more than 200 people were confirmed dead, and over 1,000 remain missing due to floods. These are not just statistics—they represent shattered families and destroyed communities,” he wrote.

Obi pointed out that the distance between Abuja and both Makurdi (Benue State) and Mokwa (Niger State) is nearly the same—approximately 282 km and 287 km, respectively—making accessibility no excuse for delay. He compared Tinubu’s approach with that of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently travelled over 1,800 km to visit flood victims in Mthatha, despite the death toll there being below 100.

“If the South African president could do it, we believe our own president can do the same. ‘Let your visit to Mokwa send a strong message that all Nigerian lives matter and that no community, however rural, is forgotten,’ Obi urged.

He concluded by calling for a shift from what he termed “leadership by remote control” to one rooted in compassion, visibility, and action.

“We look forward to seeing a leadership that does not only speak but acts—proactively, compassionately, and inclusively,” Obi added.

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