The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata, a community in Benue State recently devastated by a bandit attack.
Obi condemned the President’s reason bad roads as an unacceptable excuse and a clear sign of leadership failure.
Obi expressed his dissatisfaction in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, June 2025, saying that true leadership demands sacrifice, courage, and a readiness to act, especially during times of national grief and insecurity.
“Nigeria cannot and will not be built on excuses,” Obi wrote. “It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and responsibility of true leaders.”
"You Don’t Abandon Your People": Obi Challenges Tinubu's Excuses
According to Obi, once President Tinubu had arrived in Benue State, nothing should have stopped him from reaching Yelwata, where citizens are mourning the deaths of loved ones. The Labour Party stalwart questioned why alternative means—such as using a helicopter from the Presidential Air Fleet—weren’t deployed if road travel was truly impossible.
“Leadership is not about comfort; it is about sacrifice. You cannot abandon your citizens in their hour of need. You don’t offer excuses when action is required,” Obi stressed.
He further argued that if the President of Nigeria claims bad roads prevented him from visiting parts of his own country, then what message does that send to the millions of ordinary Nigerians who must travel those roads daily without security escorts or motorcades?
“If the Commander-in-Chief cannot access a community because of poor infrastructure, then who is responsible for fixing the roads if not the federal and state governments?” Obi queried.
Obi: Presence Matters More Than Protocol
The former Anambra State governor also decried what he called a glaring lack of empathy and urgency from the federal government. He emphasised that beyond protocol, grieving citizens expect presence, consolation, and leadership during tragedy.
“The people of Benue did not need explanations or security protocols. They needed to see and feel the presence of their leader. They needed empathy, not excuses.”
Obi lamented that institutional neglect and poor infrastructure were not just logistical issues, but symbolic of a deeper leadership disconnect between government and the governed.
"Enough Time to Prepare"
He argued that since the attack had occurred days prior, the presidency had sufficient time to make adequate arrangements to ensure Tinubu's visit to the affected area. According to him, presidential aides and staff were able to reach parts of the area, implying that the terrain wasn’t as impassable as claimed.
“Even if we accept that the roads were bad, others managed to navigate them. Why couldn’t the President? What happened to the helicopters in the Presidential fleet?” he asked.
A Call for Accountable Leadership
Obi’s statement is part of a broader message he has consistently preached the need for accountable, people-centered leadership. He warned that a new Nigeria cannot emerge from the current culture of excuses, negligence, and avoidance of responsibility.
“A New Nigeria will not be built on blame or excuses. It will be built on the courage to face challenges head-on, and the willingness to act, even when it is difficult.”
Obi’s remarks have resonated with many Nigerians who feel disconnected from the federal leadership amid ongoing security challenges and deteriorating infrastructure. His criticism also highlights a growing demand for proactive governance and empathy in times of national crisis.
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