In a post shared Friday on his official X handle, Obi condemned the President’s excuse of bad roads as an inadequate justification, especially given the magnitude of loss and suffering experienced by the residents of Yelwata and Daudu.

“One of the consistent principles of leadership is the willingness to make ultimate sacrifices and take risks,” Obi wrote.

“A true leader does not make excuses or complain; he shows up, sacrifices, and provides solutions, especially in difficult times.”

President Tinubu, who visited Benue on Wednesday, avoided Yelwata, the epicentre of suspected herdsmen attacks that claimed scores of lives, citing poor road access as the reason. But Obi challenged the validity of that claim, questioning why presidential staff and aides could reach the area if it was truly impassable.

“Even if we accept that the roads were truly impassable—which they are not, as presidential aides and staff managed to navigate them—what happened to the use of helicopters?”

“Are we saying a nation that boasts of a presidential air fleet could not airlift the President to Yelwata to condole with grieving citizens?”

Obi emphasised that true leadership is not about convenience but presence, especially in the midst of suffering.

“Leadership is not about comfort; it is about sacrifice. It is about standing with your people, especially in moments of pain and tragedy. You cannot abandon your citizens in their hour of need.”

He further stated that beyond infrastructure challenges, institutional neglect remains a deeper issue plaguing Benue and other vulnerable regions in Nigeria.

President Tinubu’s visit has since come under fire from civil society groups, community leaders, and political figures who argue that the federal government has failed to provide adequate support or preventive action amid escalating attacks in the region.