The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra state Peter Obi in a statement on Tuesday has ‘thanked’ president Bola Tinubu for planning to visit Benue state on Wednesday.

He pointed out that if the South Africa and Indian leaders can put a face to humanity in government then Nigerian president can do same.

Recall Benue State residents have suffered the loss of 200 people to Fulani Herdsmen attack unprovoked, burning their houses, children and adult, which caused uproar and anger in Nigeria citizens.

 Anger was further fueled when President Bola Tinubu refused to address or mention the loss of lives in Benue 24 hours after the attack while other leaders including Pope Leo XIV have done so.

Obi in a statement on Monday had pointed out that Nigerians voted for tribe and culture in place of a leader with character and empathy for his people, he claimed there is no human face to leadership in Nigeria, comparing it to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who were both at the scene plane crash and flood disaster respectively in their countries.

After so much condemnation from the citizens, president Tinubu on Monday finally addressed the issue saying he will adjust his program and visit the Benue on Wednesday.

In his words: “The leadership and people of Benue State should accept our condolences and try hard, very very consciously to maintain peace-harmony themselves.

“I have always say this, that we are one single huge family living in the same house, stay in different rooms but living together in harmony will be result of our diversity from prosperity, we should be able to manage our anger and frustrations.

“I sympathize with those who have lost their lives I will adjust my program and go see Benue people on Wednesday.”

However, the Labour Party presidential candidate cited other places that has been ravaged by disaster and equally attack, he opined that the president should visit those communities as well, so that it won’t seems some tribes are more important than the others

According to Obi: “It was refreshing news on Monday to a bewildered nation learning that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally decided to visit the scene of the brutal killings in Benue State. For this I thank him even as I make further request that similar gesture should be extended to Niger state that lost more number of human lives in a natural disaster, flood recently.

“Given the emergency nature of these incidents, a prompt visits would have delivered the urgency needed, instead of giving future dates that makes it look like a state visit.

“The presence of the President in these devastated and grieving communities will be very reassuring and uplifting. Both Benue and Niger States have lost over 200 lives each due to recent tragedies. In Mokwa alone, more than 200 people were confirmed dead, and over 1,000 are still missing following the floods. These are not just statistics; they are the lives of Nigerian families torn apart and their communities destroyed.

“The distance from Abuja to these affected areas is not far. Abuja to Makurdi is about 282 km and Abuja to Mokwa is about 287 km

C”ombined, that’s roughly 1,134 km for a round trip to both locations, still significantly less than the 1,870 km round trip President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa recently made some days ago from Pretoria to Mthatha to personally visit flood victims in his country. Less than 100 persons died in Mthatha, and more than 200 died in Mokwa, with over 1000 still missing.

“If the South African President could do it, we trust that you, as our own President, can do the same for your people. Let your visit to Mokwa send a strong message, that all Nigerian lives matter, and that no community, no matter how rural, is forgotten. Please also consider stepping up security across the country, especially in disaster-prone areas.

“We look forward to seeing not leadership by remote control but proactive leadership that responds not just with words, but with compassion and action.” He inputted

By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth