Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his response to recent violent attacks in parts of the country.

He accused the president of lacking empathy and failing to be physically present in the affected communities.

Mr Obi’s remarks followed the president’s visit to Plateau State on Thursday, which ended at the Jos airport without a visit to communities directly affected by the violence.

In a statement, Mr Obi said leadership must extend beyond official appearances, stressing that physical presence at the scene of tragedy is vital in demonstrating empathy and solidarity.

“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,” Mr Obi said.

“For citizens who have just lost loved ones, homes, and their sense of safety, being addressed from an airport tarmac is profoundly inadequate,” he added. “This approach exacerbates the sense of abandonment already felt by innocent Nigerians who have endured repeated cycles of violence without meaningful protection or justice.”

According to Mr Obi, 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 also cited a similar incident during Mr Tinubu’s visit to Benue State in June 2025, when the president stopped at the government house but did not proceed to the scene of the killings.

Mr Obi called for urgent and decisive measures to tackle insecurity, noting that communities in Plateau and other parts of the country require more than assurances.