In a pointed and politically charged statement, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has harshly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, characterising it as a tone-deaf display of political celebration rather than the solemn gesture of national leadership it was expected to be.
The visit, which came in the wake of yet another wave of brutal attacks on rural communities in Benue by suspected armed herdsmen — resulting in scores of deaths, displacement of residents, and widespread destruction — had been anticipated as a moment for the Nigerian president to demonstrate solidarity and compassion. Instead, the optics of the event have triggered outrage and disappointment across several quarters, particularly from Obi, who took to his social media platform to express his dismay.
“We begged for leadership,” Obi wrote, “but what we saw was a display that looked more like project commissioning than condolence.”
Obi noted with deep concern that rather than arriving in somber attire befitting the gravity of the situation, President Tinubu appeared in full celebratory agbada regalia, surrounded by a retinue of government officials and political supporters, creating the impression of a festive political rally rather than a visit to a grieving and traumatised people.
“The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy,” he added, referencing what he believes is a glaring insensitivity from the federal leadership.
While the people of Benue continue to grapple with insecurity, food shortages, and the trauma of recurring violence, the President’s visit — complete with speeches, photo ops, and fanfare — has exposed the widening gulf between Nigeria’s political leadership and the lived experiences of its citizens. Analysts suggest that such disconnect has become an emblem of the larger failure of governance in addressing Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, especially in rural regions.
For Peter Obi, whose campaign was built around themes of accountability, empathy, and a reimagined leadership culture, the visit represents a missed opportunity for the Tinubu administration to recalibrate its relationship with the people — to lead not only by policy but by presence and empathy.
“The state, instead of reflecting a mood of mourning, organized a fanfare. What message does that send to those who lost their loved ones?” Obi queried, accusing the local and federal governments of turning tragedy into a stage for political theatre.
Political observers note that the optics of the President’s visit — rather than uniting the country in a moment of grief — have fuelled political tensions. For the opposition, especially the Labour Party and its supporters, the incident further validates concerns that the current administration prioritizes optics over substance, and loyalty over empathy.
Some defenders of the government have pushed back, arguing that the President’s visit itself shows commitment to the region, and that development initiatives should not cease entirely during periods of crisis. Yet, for many Nigerians, such justifications ring hollow in the face of unaddressed violence and a lack of justice for victims.
Peter Obi’s statement is more than a political jab — it is a call for national reflection. In a country where violence has too often been normalised and where leadership frequently appears aloof from the suffering of the people, his words echo a growing demand for a new kind of leadership: one grounded in emotional intelligence, humility, and genuine public service.
The events in Benue — and the reaction to them — may be a microcosm of the broader Nigerian crisis, one where governance struggles to align its performance and posture with the pain of its people. Whether the Tinubu administration heeds this wake-up call remains to be seen, but as Obi and others have made clear, the era of performative politics is running out of road.
“Leadership,” Obi concluded, “must go beyond presence. It must reflect purpose, understanding, and solidarity — especially when a nation mourns.”
