Peter?Obi Slams Tinubu for Skipping Visit to Yelewata After Massacre

Obi Chides Tinubu for Failing to Visit Yelewata Community

Abuja, June 20, 2025 – Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor and prominent opposition figure, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu for visiting Makurdi Hospital following the Yelewata massacre but failing to travel to the devastated village itself .

Context of the Criticism

• In mid?June, gunmen—believed to be herdsmen—stormed Yelewata, Benue State, killing at least 150 villagers, torching homes, and destroying a whole year’s harvest .
• President Tinubu arrived in Makurdi, met with hospital patients and local leaders, and chastised the police for not making arrests—but notably did not visit Yelewata itself .

Obi’s Statement

Obi condemned the decision to “skip” Yelewata, saying that visiting the actual crime scene—where lives were lost and livelihoods destroyed—is crucial to empathize with victims and show resolve.

He emphasized that merely visiting a hospital falls short, and urged Tinubu to go to Yelewata to understand the depth of the tragedy and the suffering of survivors firsthand.

Why This Matters

• Moral Leadership: Obi suggested the president missed a critical opportunity to symbolize national sorrow and solidarity.
• Political Accountability: Critics argue the absence from the site reflects a broader pattern of detachment from grassroots suffering.
• Demanding Security Response: A visit to Yelewata would show commitment to justice and deeper understanding of insecurity in rural Nigeria.