Peter Obi Blasts Fanfare During Tinubu’s Visit to Benue After Massacre: “Nigeria Is Losing Its Soul”
Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has condemned in strong terms the celebration and fanfare that accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, following the massacre of over 150 innocent Nigerians by gunmen.
Obi’s statement, which he posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, has sparked widespread reactions and reignited conversations around leadership sensitivity, national mourning, and the value of human life in Nigeria.
In this detailed blog post, NaijaRush breaks down Obi’s powerful message, the context of Tinubu’s visit, and what this means for Nigeria’s collective conscience in times of national tragedy.
Background: Tinubu’s Visit Amid Grief
President Tinubu’s visit to Benue State came after weeks of public outcry and demands that the federal government show visible empathy and support to victims of escalating attacks across the country.
The president finally arrived in Benue on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, following the shocking slaughter of over 150 people, mostly women and children, in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of the state. The attacks, widely believed to have been carried out by armed herdsmen, have left hundreds of families displaced, with villages burned down and communities devastated.
However, what was supposed to be a solemn visit of compassion and solidarity turned into what Peter Obi described as a "carnival-like display.” Obi’s observations were pointed and direct, as he lamented the seeming loss of sensitivity in Nigeria’s leadership and public conduct during national tragedies.
Obi’s Message: “What Has Happened to Our Compassion?”
Posting a video showing school children standing in the rain in uniform to welcome President Tinubu, Obi wrote:
“What has happened to our compassion as a People?”
He said the people had pleaded with the President to visit the affected areas as a true leader would in times of grief, to mourn with the grieving and stand in solidarity with a hurting nation.
But instead, he said, the optics of the visit betrayed the seriousness of the moment.
“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.”
“A Visit Fit for a Road Commissioning, Not a Mourning”
Obi criticized the tone and conduct of the event, comparing it to a political rally or the commissioning of a project.
“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,” he wrote.
He also faulted President Tinubu’s choice of attire, noting that the President arrived in "celebratory agbada" rather than wearing any clothing that symbolized mourning or solidarity with grieving families.
“The President arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy.”
State Government Accused of Organizing Fanfare
Obi did not spare the Benue State Government in his remarks. He expressed disappointment that the government prioritized organizing crowds and festivities over genuine mourning.
“Even more heartbreaking is the role of the State. Rather than being in mourning mood… they declared a public holiday, not for reflection or prayer, but to organize fanfare.”
According to him, schools were shut down not for grieving or counseling, but to mobilize children to welcome the President with songs and dance.
“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?”
This, Obi said, shows a “complete breakdown of empathy” in leadership and a growing culture of showmanship over substance.
“We’re Clapping While the Nation Bleeds”
Obi’s most powerful criticism came when he described Nigeria as a nation losing its soul. He lamented the transformation of condolence visits into public carnivals with banners, music, and staged performances.
“We have tragically arrived at a point where condolence visits have become carnivals,” he said.
“A time that should be marked by silence and solemnity is now polluted by banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles.”
He questioned how a nation can applaud and celebrate while so many lives are being lost senselessly:
“We are not at war, yet our nation is bleeding, and we are clapping. It is not only insensitive, it is dangerous.”
"Leadership Is Presence, Silence, and Action"
To show what true leadership looks like, Obi pointed to international examples. He cited how President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India handled tragic situations in their countries.
“When President Ramaphosa visited Mthatha after the floods in South Africa, there were no drums. No staged crowds. No rented cheers. Just presence, silence, and action.”
“When Prime Minister Modi went to the site of a crash, no one lined up to welcome him. He came, he mourned, he acted.”
These, Obi argued, are what responsible and sensitive leadership looks like in times of pain—not fanfare and optics.
“These Were Human Beings. Their Blood Cries for Justice”
In perhaps the most haunting part of his message, Peter Obi reminded Nigerians that the lives lost were not statistics—they were human beings: mothers, fathers, children.
“Let us not forget: These were human beings, children, mothers, fathers whose blood cries out for justice.”
“When very sad incidents like this turn to campaign or festival, our Nation is losing its soul.”
He concluded with his signature slogan:
“A new Nigeria is POssible! - PO”
Final Thoughts: Obi’s Message Sparks National Soul-Searching
Peter Obi’s comments have hit a nerve in the national consciousness, igniting a crucial conversation about how Nigeria handles grief, tragedy, and leadership. His comparison of the Benue visit to a campaign event raises fundamental questions about how empathy, compassion, and genuine leadership are being eroded in Nigeria's political system.
At NaijaRush, we echo the call for a return to humanity, for leaders who will not just govern, but feel, who will not just appear, but act with meaning.
In times like this, empathy must trump optics. National mourning should not be confused for celebration, and the value of Nigerian lives must never be reduced to props in a political theater.
If Nigeria is truly to heal and grow into the "New Nigeria" that many dream of, then moments of loss must be treated with respect, dignity, and truth.
Let the soul-searching begin.
