Peter Obi Blasts Tinubu for Cancelling Yelwata Visit Due to Bad Roads Amid Benue Attacks

In a statement shared on X on Friday, June 20, Obi emphasized that effective leadership necessitates both sacrifice and presence, particularly during times of crisis.

He criticized the President for not visiting the community and for attributing his decision to ‘bad roads’.

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has expressed his disapproval of President Bola Tinubu for not visiting the Yelwata community during his trip to Benue state on Wednesday, June 18.

The President’s visit aimed to offer condolences to the victims of the recent attack in Yelwata community, which resulted in the deaths of over 150 individuals. In his address to various stakeholders in the state, the President stated that he had to cancel his visit to Yelwata due to the ‘rain, flood, and bad roads’.

In a statement shared on X on Friday, June 20, Obi emphasized that effective leadership necessitates both sacrifice and presence, particularly during times of crisis. He criticized the President for not visiting the community and for attributing his decision to ‘bad roads’.

“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.”

Obi remarked that while he does not advocate for placing the President in extreme danger, he deemed the excuse provided as unacceptable. He questioned how it could be deemed unsuitable for the President to use the road while it remains accessible for ordinary Nigerians.

His statement in full reads

‘’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?Music concert tickets

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.”