Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, on Friday criticised President Bola Tinubu abruptly ending his visit to Yelewata community in Benue State.
According to Obi, leadership requires making “ultimate sacrifices” and taking risk, and not making excuses especially in “difficult times”.
Tinubu, who visited the state on Wednesday, was unable to visit the Yelewata community – recently struck by a terrorist attack which left over 150 dead – because of “rain, flood and bad roads”.
Reacting to the excuses, Obi noted that Tinubu could have visited the community by helicopter.
He also clarified that the responsibility of fixing the bad roads lies with the federal and state goverent, adding that leadership is not about “comfort”, but standing with the people “in moments of pain and tragedy”.
Peter Obi’s Statement
“This visit happened days after the massacre, with enough time to plan appropriately,” Obi said in a statement on X. “If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach a part of his own country due to bad roads, what hope is there for the ordinary Nigerian who plies those same routes every day?
“Leadership is not about comfort; it is about sacrifice. It is about standing with your people, especially in moments of pain and tragedy. You cannot abandon your citizens in their hour of need. You don’t offer excuses when action is required.
“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable — which they are not, as presidential aides and staff managed to navigate them — what happened to the use of helicopters. Are we saying a nation that boasts of a presidential air fleet could not airlift the President to Yelwata to condole with grieving citizens?
“The people of Benue did not need protocol or explanations. They needed empathy. They needed presence. The roads may be bad, but what is worse is the institutional neglect that brought us to this point.
“A New Nigeria cannot — and will not — be built on excuses. It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and responsibility of true leaders.”
