In a strongly worded reaction to President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flag bearer, expressed deep disappointment over what he described as a lack of compassion and appropriate leadership during a time of national tragedy.
Obi questioned the tone and nature of the presidential visit, saying, “What has happened to our compassion as a People?” He highlighted the expectation that the President would show solidarity with the families affected by the recent massacre in Benue State, where over 200 innocent Nigerians lost their lives, as well as the devastating floods in Niger State.
According to Obi, instead of a solemn and reflective visit, President Tinubu’s appearance and the state’s arrangements resembled a celebratory event. “The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy,” Obi stated. He criticized the state government for declaring a public holiday not for mourning or prayer but to organize fanfare, with children and parents forced to perform under the rain for the President’s arrival.
Obi condemned the transformation of condolence visits into what he called “carnivals,” saying, “A time that should be marked by silence and solemnity is now polluted by banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles.” He lamented the misplaced priorities, arguing that resources spent on the fanfare could have been better used to provide food supplies, temporary shelters, medical aid, school support, and trauma counseling for the grieving families.
Drawing comparisons with other leaders’ responses to tragedies, Obi said, “When President Ramaphosa visited Mthatha after the floods in South Africa, there were no drums. No staged crowds. No rented cheers. Just presence, silence, and action. When Prime Minister Modi went to the site of a crash, no one lined up to welcome him. He came, he mourned, he acted. That is what leadership looks like in moments of pain.”
He concluded with a somber reflection on the nation’s state, warning against turning grief into spectacle: “When very sad incidents like this turn to campaign or festival, our Nation is Losing Its Soul. A new Nigeria is POssible!”