PETER OBI SLAMS TINUBU FOR SILENCE ON BENUE MASSACRE, NIGER FLOOD TRAGEDY
By IDNN Political Desk
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has fiercely criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response—or lack thereof—to the recent tragedies in Benue and Niger States. In a statement titled “What Cannot Be Hidden in Leadership,” Obi lamented what he described as “leadership without empathy,” citing Tinubu’s failure to visit or publicly console victims of the twin disasters.
Obi referred to the mass killing of over 200 residents in Yelwata and Daudu communities in Benue State, and the devastating floods in Niger State, both of which occurred within days of each other and claimed hundreds of lives.
“Just days ago, over 200 Nigerians—innocent men, women, children, and even soldiers—were massacred in Benue. Again, no presidential visit. No genuine mourning. No face of leadership to give hope to the grieving,” Obi said.
He compared Nigeria’s response to those of global leaders in similar crises.
“In India, the Prime Minister visited the scene of a plane crash that killed 200 within hours. In South Africa, the President stood personally with victims of flooding. That is leadership. What we have here is tragic indifference,” Obi stated.
“NIGERIA NEEDS A LEADER, NOT JUST A PRESIDENT”
Obi went beyond immediate criticism, using the moment to reflect on what he termed Nigeria’s “chronic leadership crisis.” He reiterated his “4 Cs” doctrine—Competence, Capacity, Character, and Compassion—as the non-negotiable pillars for true leadership.
“Leadership must show up. It must feel the pain of the people. But today, we treat human lives like statistics,” he said.
He warned that as long as Nigerians continue to vote based on “tribe and religion,” leadership failures would persist.
“We must reject sentimental politics. Until we choose leaders based on the 4 Cs, this cycle of pain will never end,” Obi insisted.
A NATION MOURNS ALONE
Obi’s remarks have sparked fresh debate over the Tinubu administration’s crisis response mechanisms. The presidency has issued a few written statements, but the president has yet to physically visit any of the affected areas.
Observers say the contrast between Obi’s direct engagement and Tinubu’s distant posture is becoming a recurring theme. Political commentators have noted that Obi, though out of office, has consistently shown up at disaster zones and offered material support.
The former governor of Anambra called on Nigerians to “demand more” from leaders, and to begin valuing not just policies but presence, empathy, and accountability.
SOCIAL REACTION AND POLITICAL STAKES
Obi’s post has gone viral, with thousands of Nigerians praising his boldness. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtags #BenueMassacre and #ObiSpeaksForUs trended throughout Monday, reflecting widespread frustration at what many see as official indifference to human suffering.
Rights activists and civil society leaders echoed Obi’s sentiments, calling for urgent reforms in disaster response protocols and direct presidential involvement in national tragedies.
“When the president is absent in times of sorrow, the nation feels abandoned,” one activist said.
FINAL WORD
Peter Obi’s fiery intervention is more than political critique—it is a mirror held up to the nation’s leadership and moral compass. With hundreds dead and thousands displaced, Nigerians are left wondering if compassion has any place left in power.