BENUE MASSACRE: TINUBU’S VISIT TO THE SITE OF INCIDENT IS ENCOURAGING- PETER OBI
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By Jen Nomamiukor
The Presidential Aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has characterized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice to tour the location of the recent massacre in Benue State, where more than 200 individuals were slain by alleged armed herders, as “invigorating. “
Obi expressed his views in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, stating that the visit, though overdue, was a welcome development.
The former Anambra State governor, who had previously criticized President Tinubu for his absence in times of national tragedy, said:
“It was refreshing news on Monday to a bewildered nation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally decided to visit the scene of the brutal killings in Benue State. For this, I thank him.”
He, however, urged the President to extend the same empathy to Niger State, particularly Mokwa, where over 200 lives were reportedly lost in a devastating flood, with more than 1,000 people still missing.
“Given the emergency nature of these incidents, prompt visits would have delivered the urgency needed, instead of giving future dates that make it look like a state visit,” Obi said.
“The presence of the President in these devastated and grieving communities will be very reassuring and uplifting.”
Drawing a comparison with global leadership standards, Obi referenced South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently traveled a 1,870 km round trip from Pretoria to Mthatha to commiserate with victims of a flood that claimed fewer than 100 lives.
The proximity from Abuja to the impacted regions is not significant. Abuja to Makurdi is approximately 282 km, while Abuja to Mokwa is around 287 km. In total, that amounts to approximately 1,134 km for a round journey to both sites — still shorter than the journey undertaken by the President of South Africa.
“If President Ramaphosa could do it, we trust that you, as our own President, can do the same for your people.”
Obi emphasized that these victims are “not just statistics,” but families torn apart and communities destroyed.
“Let your visit to Mokwa send a strong message that all Nigerian lives matter, and that no community, no matter how rural, is forgotten.”
He also called on the President to step up security across the country, particularly in disaster-prone areas, and to demonstrate proactive and compassionate leadership.
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