Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his decision to visit Benue State following the killing of over 200 people in separate attacks by armed men.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obi described the president’s decision as “refreshing news,” noting that it was a relief to many Nigerians who had awaited a more empathetic response to the carnage in the state.

“It was refreshing news on Monday to a bewildered nation learning that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally decided to visit the scene of the brutal killings in Benue State.

“For this, I thank him even as I make further requests that similar gesture should be extended to Niger state that lost more number of human lives in a natural disaster, flood recently,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State governor stressed the importance of presidential presence in communities that have suffered tragedy, saying it offers emotional relief and reinforces the value of every Nigerian life.

“Both Benue and Niger states have lost over 200 lives each due to recent tragedies. In Mokwa alone, more than 200 people were confirmed dead, and over 1,000 are still missing following the floods. These are not just statistics; they are the lives of Nigerian families torn apart and their communities destroyed,” he said.

Obi urged Tinubu to extend the same empathy to victims of the devastating flood in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State by visiting them and showing the federal government’s solidarity.

He added, “We look forward to seeing not leadership by remote control but proactive leadership that responds not just with words, but with compassion and action.”

Obi also appealed to the federal government to strengthen security and emergency preparedness in disaster-prone and conflict-affected areas.

The recent surge in violence in Benue, especially the massacre in Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 people were killed by suspected herdsmen, has drawn widespread condemnation.

Similarly, in Niger State, communities along the River Niger have been overwhelmed by massive flooding, with local officials confirming dozens of deaths and thousands displaced.

President Tinubu had on Monday announced plans to visit Benue following outrage over the delay in reacting to the killings.

The presidency also said relief measures would be activated for affected families.