Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, accusing him of turning what should have been a solemn condolence trip into a political spectacle.
In a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, Obi said the visit lacked the dignity and empathy expected following the brutal attacks in Benue that left more than 200 people dead, along with devastating floods in Niger State.
“We appealed for the President to visit Benue and Niger with a sense of national mourning, to offer compassion and support to grieving families,” Obi wrote.
Instead, he lamented, the visit resembled a celebratory event.
“The President arrived not dressed in mourning but in elaborate agbada, as if attending a festival, not a site of national tragedy,” he said.
Obi also faulted the Benue State Government for declaring a public holiday during the visit, describing it as inappropriate under the circumstances.
“Children who lost classmates and parents were made to stand in the rain, singing and dancing in rehearsed performances. What kind of country stages a show for a condolence visit?” he asked.
He decried what he termed the “carnivalisation” of national tragedies.
“Condolence visits should be marked by quiet reflection and respect not by music, banners, or orchestrated displays.”
Citing international examples, Obi contrasted Tinubu’s approach with that of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, he noted, handled similar crises with restraint and respect.
“Ramaphosa visited flood victims without fanfare; Modi quietly visited crash sites. That’s what true leadership looks like.”
Obi concluded with a stark warning “when we turn national tragedies into campaign stops, we erode the moral fabric of our country.”
President Tinubu visited Benue on Wednesday, days after the deadly attacks. During a town hall meeting, he ordered security agencies to arrest those responsible.
“We must act fast and smart. Go after the criminals,” Tinubu instructed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
He also visited survivors at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, accompanied by SGF Senator George Akume and Governor Hyacinth Alia.
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