Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has condemned the persistent violence and killings in Taraba, Benue, and Kogi States, describing the situation as a “failure of leadership” and a “gaping wound in the soul of our nation.”
Obi, in a statement posted via his official X handle on Wednesday, May 28, expressed grief over the ongoing bloodshed in the three states, where waves of attacks have left families devastated and communities destroyed.
“What we are witnessing is not merely violence. It is a failure of leadership and a gaping wound in the soul of our nation,” he said.
According to Obi, the killings, which have intensified in recent months, have claimed “countless lives” including children, women, and clergy members.
He lamented that despite the scale of the tragedy, the government’s response remains weak and unconvincing.
“The bloodshed is staggering, yet the response remains weak and muted. As homes are destroyed and communities torn apart, we risk normalizing the unacceptable: mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of law and order,” he stated.
He stressed that the killings should not be treated as mere statistics but as the loss of fellow citizens. “Each life lost is a tragedy that must not be ignored,” Obi added.
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Reaffirming his long-held stance, Obi maintained that the federal government’s foremost responsibility is to protect lives and property.
“I have always maintained that the primary duty of the National government is the protection of life and property.
“When this duty is repeatedly ignored, when innocent citizens are butchered and nothing changes, we must ask ourselves: What kind of nation are we building? What future are we promising our children?” he queried.
While mourning with the affected communities, Obi called on leaders to act with urgency and sincerity, warning that silence in the face of such killings amounts to complicity.
“I mourn with the good people of Taraba, Benue, and Kogi. I share their grief, and I feel their pain. But I also raise my voice because silence in the face of such horror is complicity. We need urgent action, not rhetoric. We need justice, not excuses,” he said.
He concluded by urging the nation to reject the current path of destruction and embrace a new vision of hope and humanity.
“Nigeria can not continue like this. This is not the Nigeria we deserve. We must end this bloodshed. We must reclaim our humanity. A new Nigeria is POssible!”