Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to visit Benue State following the recent massacre that claimed over 200 lives. The tragic event, which occurred last weekend, has drawn national outrage and calls for urgent action. While commissioning the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network on Monday, President Tinubu expressed his condolences to the people and government of Benue State, acknowledging the severity of the crisis.

According to a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu has postponed his planned trip to Kaduna State in order to personally assess the situation in Benue. The visit marks a significant move, as the President seeks to address the longstanding violence and displacement affecting communities in the state.

Reacting to the news, Peter Obi described the President’s planned visit as a welcome development. He noted that Nigerians were relieved to see Tinubu finally taking a direct interest in the tragic events in Benue. However, Obi urged the President to extend a similar visit to Niger State, where devastating floods recently killed over 200 people in Mokwa, with more than 1,000 individuals still missing.

In his statement, Obi emphasized that such visits provide emotional support and a sense of belonging to grieving communities. He stressed that the affected individuals are not mere statistics, but real people whose families and homes have been shattered. He called on the President to send a clear message by visiting Mokwa—that all Nigerian lives, regardless of location or circumstance, are valued.

Obi also used the opportunity to urge Tinubu to strengthen national security measures, particularly in regions vulnerable to natural disasters and conflict. He emphasized the importance of proactive leadership in ensuring that no part of Nigeria is neglected or left to suffer in silence.