Benue Killings: It's Heartbreaking, The President Arrived Like It Was An Occasion Of Joy - Peter Obi Knocks Tinubu

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the manner of reception organized for the visit of President Bola Tinubu to Benue State over the recent massacre in the state.

Peter Obi said that instead of a solemn event to mourn the victims of the violence, which resulted in the death of several Nigerians, "the President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy.ÔÇØ

The former Anambra State Governor lamented that the Wednesday visit failed to reflect a spirit of deep national mourning and lacked compassion for the families affected by the massacre in Benue and the flooding in Niger State.

"We pleaded that the President should show Leadership and visit Benue and Niger States in the spirit of deep national mourning, to offer compassion and solidarity to families torn apart by the senseless massacre of over 200 innocent Nigerians in Benue State and flooding that killed similar number in Niger State.

"But what we saw in Benue visit was instead of a solemn, reflective visit, a display that would have been more befitting for the commissioning of reconstructed Enugu-Makurdi highway, a critical road connecting South and Northern Nigeria which had become impassable for years.

"The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy,ÔÇØ Obi wrote on his X handle in the early hours of Thursday.

The Labour Party chieftain further criticized the Benue State government for declaring a public holiday and lining up school children in the rain to dance and sing for the President.

According to him, such an action lacks compassion and empathy, adding that condolence visits have now been turned into carnivals and campaign rallies.

"Even more heartbreaking is the role of the State. Rather than been in mourning mood and weeping declared a public holiday, not for reflection or prayer, but to organize fanfare. Schools were shut down. Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates, and parents were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the President. In what kind of country does this happen?

"We have tragically arrived at a point where condolence visits have become carnivals. A time that should be marked by silence and solemnity is now polluted by banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles. Precious Nigerian lives have been lost, yet we're clapping, singing, and organizing processions, as though this were a campaign rally.

"This is not how any compassionate nation behaves. The energy, resources, and logistics poured into this charade could have gone into food supplies, temporary shelters, medical aid, school support, and trauma counselling for grieving families. Instead, we chose optics over empathy,ÔÇØ Obi added.