Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s Wednesday’s visit to Benue State as lacking in compassion and failing to reflect the gravity of the tragic loss of over 200 lives.
In a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Obi said the President’s conduct during the visit, was more of fanfare and resembled a political rally rather than a condolence trip to a grieving community.
“We pleaded that the President should show leadership and visit Benue and Niger states in the spirit of deep national mourning, to offer compassion and solidarity to families torn apart by the senseless massacre of over 200 innocent Nigerians in Benue State and flooding that killed a similar number in Niger State,” Obi wrote.
Obi was reacting to viral videos of Tinubu’s visit, in which the streets were line up with school pupils under heavy rain, who were chanting and singing to welcome the president.
According to the former Anambra state governor, Tinubu’s appearance and the atmosphere in Benue did not reflect mourning, but rather celebration.
“The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy,” Obi noted.
He also knocked the decision of the Benue State Government to declare a public holiday for the visit, saying the day was used to organise fanfare instead of prayer or reflection.
“Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates and parents were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the President.
“In what kind of country does this happen?” he asked.
He added, “We have tragically arrived at a point where condolence visits have become carnivals.
“A time that should be marked by silence and solemnity is now polluted by banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles.”
Obi compared the President’s visit with examples of leadership from other countries.
“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 said.
He warned that the current approach was eroding the soul of the nation.
“These were human beings, children, mothers, fathers whose blood cries out for justice.
“When very sad incidents like this turn to campaign or festival, our nation is losing its soul,” Obi said.
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