The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has criticised the handling of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State following recent killings in Jos.

Obi, in a post on his X handle on Friday, said it was not enough for the President to address grieving citizens from the airport, stating that true leadership requires direct engagement with affected communities and victims of violence.

“During his visit to Benue State in June 2025, Bola Ahmed Tinubu stopped at the Government House but did not go to the actual scene where innocent Nigerians lost their lives. Similarly, yesterday in Jos, his engagement ended at the airport instead of at the affected communities.” Obi wrote.

According to him, such approaches depict absence of leadership and fall short of what is expected in moments of national tragedy.

“True leadership requires presence, empathy, compassion, and a willingness to meet people where their pain truly lies. For citizens who have just lost loved ones, homes, and their sense of safety, being addressed from an airport tarmac is profoundly inadequate.”

Obi maintained that repeated cycles of violence across parts of the country have left many citizens feeling abandoned, adding that only urgent and practical steps can restore public confidence in the government’s capacity to protect lives and property.

“This approach exacerbates the sense of abandonment already felt by innocent Nigerians who have endured repeated cycles of violence without meaningful protection or justice. Plateau deserves more than distant words; it requires urgent action and a clear commitment to ending the insecurity that continues to claim innocent lives.”

He called for stronger action on insecurity, insisting that leadership must be visible not only in statements but also in physical presence at scenes of tragedy.

“In such moments, leadership must not only be visible but also tangible—standing with victims, listening to survivors, and acknowledging the depth of their grief.

“If we truly desire a better Nigeria, we must demand leadership that is present, responsive, and responsible at all times.” He added. (Daily Trust, excluding headline)