Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, has expressed his displeasure after President Bola Tinubu travelled to Benue State and failed to reach Yelewata Community where the “brutal” massacre of more than 100 people happened.
Obi, despite not advocating for the President to expose himself to “monumental risks”, said, “a true leader does not make excuses or complain”, adding, “he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times”.
President Tinubu visited Benue State on Wednesday 18 June, 2025 following the recent attacks that claimed many lives on Saturday, after rescheduling his official visit to Kaduna State to Thursday.
The President was unable to reach Yelewata Community due to “bad roads”; Obi said, the Leader had “enough time to plan appropriately” due to the fact that, he was visiting the North Central State “days after the massacre”.
Obi asked, even if Nigerians are to accept “bad roads” as a reason for the President’s failure to reach the devastated Yelewata community, “Who is responsible for fixing the roads if not state and the federal governments?”
“Leadership is not about comfort; it is about sacrifice”, Obi reminded.
Taking to his official X account to express his displeasure, Obi said: “One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks. A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times.
“While I do not advocate for our President to expose himself to monumental risks, I cannot accept the excuse that bad roads prevented him from reaching Yelwata in Benue State—especially after he had already made it to the state.
“This visit happened days after the massacre, with enough time to plan appropriately.
“But let’s ask the fundamental question: Who is responsible for fixing the roads if not state and the federal governments? If the Commander-in-Chief cannot reach a part of his own country due to bad roads, what hope is there for the ordinary Nigerian who plies those same routes every day?
“Leadership is not about comfort; it is about sacrifice. It is about standing with your people, especially in moments of pain and tragedy. You cannot abandon your citizens in their hour of need. You don’t offer excuses when action is required.
“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable—which they are not, as presidential aides and staff managed to navigate them—what happened to the use of helicopters? Are we saying a nation that boasts of a presidential air fleet could not airlift the President to Yelwata to condole with grieving citizens?
“The people of Benue did not need protocol or explanations. They needed empathy. They needed presence. The roads may be bad, but what is worse is the institutional neglect that brought us to this point.
“A New Nigeria cannot—and will not—be built on excuses. It will be built on the sacrifices, courage, and responsibility of true leaders.
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
The President who went ahead with his official visit it Kaduna State, commissioned several projects alongside Executive Governor of the Northwestern State, Uba Sani.
President Tinubu said, Uba Sani’s administration’s vision aligns with his Renewed Hope Agenda.
