“The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy.”
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, describing it as lacking empathy. Tinubu had visited the state following deadly attacks in Yelewata, Guma LGA, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives, allegedly by armed herders.
Obi, in a statement posted on X, said the visit felt like a “carnival” rather than a solemn condolence event. “What has happened to our compassion as a People?” he asked.
He accused the president of arriving in “celebratory agbada attire” instead of mourning clothes. “Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates… were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance,” Obi said.
He compared Tinubu’s visit unfavorably to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s reaction to a tragedy, urging Nigerians to reflect. “Enough of this culture of impunity… our nation is bleeding,” Obi wrote, concluding, “A new Nigeria is POssible!”