President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's brief stop in Jos on Thursday drew sharp criticism from former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who condemned the president's failure to visit communities affected by recent violence in Plateau State. Rather than touring impacted areas or meeting grieving families, Tinubu concluded his visit at the airport, prompting Obi to label the move as emblematic of detached leadership. In a statement, Obi said, "What happened in Plateau yesterday highlights a complete absence of leadership. True leadership requires presence, empathy, compassion, and a willingness to meet people where their pain truly lies." He added that addressing citizens from an airport tarmac after deadly attacks is deeply insufficient.
Obi referenced a similar incident in June 2025, when Tinubu visited Benue State but did not go to locations where killings had occurred, stopping only at the government house. He stressed that repeated cycles of violence demand more than official statements, calling for tangible action to protect lives and restore security. "Plateau deserves more than distant words," Obi said, arguing that the lack of physical presence deepens the feeling of abandonment among victims.
Peter Obi is not wrong to spotlight Tinubu's airport-only visit, but his own 2023 campaign offered no detailed security plan either. Condemning absence from attack sites matters, but Nigerians have yet to see a political figure with a credible, actionable strategy to stop rural killings. Symbolism from both sides fills airtime; bodies keep piling up in Plateau and Benue. Until policy matches rhetoric, pain will outweigh politics.
