Peter Obi to Tinubu: Leadership without compassion is a disaster

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By Madu Obi

Presidential aspirant for the 2027 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi has criticized what he described as lack of empathy and the quality of national leadership exhibited during the recent presidential visits to violence-affected areas in Nigeria.

Obi spoke on the recent visits by President Bola Tinubu to Benue State in June 2025, where he stopped at the Government House without proceeding to communities affected by deadly attacks and a similar occurrence in Plateau State, where his ended at the Jos airport rather than at the impacted areas.

According to Obi, such actions fall short of the expectations of leadership in times of crisis, arguing that true leadership requires more than official appearances.

“For citizens who have just lost loved ones, homes, and their sense of safety, being addressed from an airport tarmac, is profoundly inadequate,” he stated, stressing the need for physical presence, empathy, and direct engagement with victims.

Obi warned that the president's approach could deepen the sense of abandonment among Nigerians who have endured repeated cycles of violence without meaningful protection or justice.

He called for urgent action and a clear commitment to addressing the insecurity affecting communities, particularly in Plateau State and maintained that leadership must be both visible and tangible in moments of crisis.

"Standing with victims, listening to survivors, and acknowledging their grief could make a lot of difference," he added.