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Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu's recent visit to Benue State following the massacre of approximately 200 people. Obi accused the President of prioritizing "optics over empathy," noting that he wore a "celebratory agbada attire" instead of mourning clothes during a visit that felt more like a "carnival" than a solemn condolence.
  • The criticism stems from President Tinubu's delayed visit to Benue, which occurred after significant public backlash over the senseless killings.
  • Peter Obi highlighted a contrast between the President's attire and the tragic circumstances, stating the visit resembled "the commissioning of reconstructed Enugu-Makurdi highway."
  • Obi further noted that the state declared a public holiday, with schools shut down and children "lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the President," rather than a period of mourning.
  • He drew comparisons to international leaders like President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi, who demonstrated quiet solemnity and direct action during crises, contrasting their approach with what he termed a "charade" in Benue.

Optics Over Empathy feels less like a critique and more like a mirror: a nation dressing in joy over tragedy. While children sing under rain and flags wave high, justice lies silent on the ground.

When did your country last choose optics over empathy in a moment that demanded silence and truth?

Sources: Daily Post, Peter Obi (via X)