Peter Obi Slams Tinubu’s Government Over Benue Massacre, Niger Floods: “No Compassion, No Leadership”
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he describes as a “lack of empathy” in the face of recent national tragedies that have shaken Nigeria to its core.
In a powerful message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Obi expressed deep frustration over what he believes is an alarming absence of leadership qualities—especially in responding to disasters such as the Benue massacre and the deadly flooding in Niger State, both of which claimed hundreds of lives.
“Leadership of a nation is such that it's either succeeding or failing—none can be hidden,” Obi wrote, beginning his heartfelt post.
Peter Obi on What True Leadership Means
Peter Obi, who was widely praised for his empathetic and people-focused campaign during the 2023 general elections, outlined what he called the “4 Cs” of effective leadership—a set of values he says Nigeria desperately needs.
“There are critical areas of leadership that must exist for a nation to move forward, and these are summed up in four Cs: Competence, Capacity, Character and Compassion. Where these four are non-existent, there is no magic you can do.”
According to Obi, a nation like Nigeria cannot afford to elect leaders based on ethnic, religious, or sentimental considerations. Instead, he advocates for a merit-based system that prioritizes leaders who possess all four pillars.
“It's in this line that I have always maintained that we must move away from voting based on tribe and religion, and begin to vote for people with competence, capacity, character, and compassion, because we have all seen, painfully, what leadership without these qualities has done to our country.”
Breakdown of the “4 Cs” According to Peter Obi
1. Competence
Obi believes Nigeria needs leaders who understand complex national issues and are equipped with the knowledge, experience, and clear strategy to tackle them.
“Competence because Nigeria today needs a leader who understands the issues, who has the knowledge, experience, and clear ideas to solve them.”
This is a direct critique of the current administration’s response to crises. Obi argues that without a deep understanding of Nigeria’s challenges, it’s impossible to implement effective solutions.
2. Capacity
Being President is not ceremonial, Obi says. It requires physical strength, mental sharpness, and emotional resilience to lead a country like Nigeria with its diverse and difficult problems.
“Capacity because it is not a ceremonial position; it requires strength, stamina, and the mental energy to confront our complex challenges.”
3. Character
Integrity, honesty, and a sense of justice are non-negotiable, according to Obi. He believes corruption flourishes in the absence of strong moral character.
“Leadership must be rooted in character and integrity because without integrity, public trust collapses, corruption thrives, and selfishness takes over.”
4. Compassion
Obi places compassion at the heart of his definition of leadership. Without it, he says, the government sees people as numbers, not human beings.
“Perhaps most importantly, we need compassion, because when a leader lacks compassion, human lives are treated as statistics, and suffering is ignored.”
No Empathy in the Face of National Tragedy, Obi Says
Peter Obi expressed heartbreak over the Tinubu administration’s inaction and silence during two recent national disasters that demanded swift presidential response.
Niger State Flood Kills Nearly 200
“Recently, we witnessed severe flooding in Niger State that claimed nearly 200 lives, with many still missing. Yet, not even a single presidential visit, this, in a nation where the scene of the tragedy is less than an hour away by helicopter.”
Obi emphasized the need for leaders to show physical presence in times of national pain, describing the failure to visit the flood victims as deeply disheartening.
Benue Massacre: Over 200 Lives Lost, Including Soldiers
Obi’s reference to both civilians and soldiers is critical. The fact that military personnel were also killed in the Benue attack makes the silence from the Presidency even more glaring.“Just days ago, over 200 Nigerians—innocent men, women, children, and even soldiers—were massacred in Benue State. Again, no presidential visit. No physical presence at the scenes of pain. No genuine national mourning. No leadership face to comfort the grieving or give hope to the people.”
Obi Compares Tinubu’s Response to Foreign Leaders
Peter Obi did not stop at criticizing Nigerian leadership. He went on to highlight how leaders in other parts of the world handle national tragedies.
“In India, after a plane crash killed nearly 200 people, the Prime Minister was physically at the scene within hours.”
“In South Africa, when floods claimed 78 lives, the president went personally to the affected communities, stood with them, and took responsibility.”
Obi’s comparison shows the stark difference between compassionate leadership abroad and the detached leadership at home, reinforcing his argument that empathy is missing from the Nigerian political space.
Nigeria’s Normalized Indifference, Says Obi
The former governor of Anambra State concluded that Nigerians have sadly become used to leadership that lacks heart.
“That is leadership with compassion. That is leadership that understands the value of human life. But here in Nigeria, we have normalised leadership without empathy, without accountability, and without a human face.”
This normalization of suffering, according to Obi, is a national tragedy in itself.
“We Don’t Need Another President, We Need a Leader”
In his closing remarks, Obi emphasized that Nigeria’s problem is not the lack of politicians, but the absence of genuine leaders.
“That is why I insist: Nigeria does not just need another president; Nigeria needs a leader—a leader with competence, capacity, character, and compassion.”
“Until we choose leaders on these principles, the cycle of pain will only continue.”
Obi’s Final Word: A New Nigeria is POssible
Obi ended his message with his well-known campaign slogan, which still resonates with millions of Nigerians who voted for him in 2023.
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
This is more than just a slogan—it’s a call to action for citizens to hold leaders accountable and demand better governance.
Final Thoughts on Peter Obi’s Bold Statement
Peter Obi’s message is a wake-up call to the Nigerian political class and to citizens who continue to bear the brunt of poor leadership. By boldly highlighting the government’s failure to respond compassionately to two of the worst tragedies in recent Nigerian history, Obi reminds us that real leadership is not about position—it’s about presence, empathy, and action.
If Nigeria is to break the cycle of pain, suffering, and neglect, citizens must heed Obi’s words and begin to elect leaders based not on identity, but on values. The future of the country, he argues, depends on it.
