Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has condemned President Bola Tinubu over how he conducted his recent condolence visit to Plateau State.
In a post shared on X on Friday, Obi criticised Tinubu for choosing to meet victims of the Jos attack at the airport instead of visiting the affected communities.
He said the move showed a lack of compassion, stressing that genuine leadership demands physical presence and empathy during times of crisis.
“What happened in Plateau yesterday highlights a complete absence of leadership. True leadership requires presence, empathy, compassion, and a willingness to meet people where their pain truly lies.
“For citizens who have just lost loved ones, homes, and their sense of safety, being addressed from an airport tarmac is profoundly inadequate,” Obi said.
Obi also pointed to a similar visit by the President to Benue State in 2025, noting that Tinubu did not go to the actual scene of the attack.
“This approach exacerbates the sense of abandonment already felt by innocent Nigerians who have endured repeated cycles of violence without meaningful protection or justice.
“Plateau deserves more than distant words; it requires urgent action and a clear commitment to ending the insecurity that continues to claim innocent lives,” Obi added.
The former governor of Anambra State further called on leaders to show responsiveness and a strong commitment to tackling insecurity across the country.
His remarks come amid growing reactions to Tinubu’s visit to Jos, where he met victims at the airport.
The Presidency had earlier stated that logistical challenges, including airport limitations, made it difficult for the President to travel to the affected communities.
However, critics argue that the decision highlights a disconnect between the government and victims of the violence.
The recent violence in Plateau State occurred on Palm Sunday in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, where gunmen attacked residents, killing at least 27 people and injuring several others.
The incident is part of a recurring trend of communal and sectarian clashes in Plateau State, which has long struggled with tensions rooted in ethnic, religious, and land-related disputes.
