In the heart of Benue State, more than 100 lives were snuffed out in June during a horrifying attack on Yelwata community. Entire families were wiped out, homes burnt, and a once-quiet village turned into a landscape of grief. In the midst of this national tragedy, a political storm has now brewed—over who truly cares.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi had, in a recent appearance on Channels TV, faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to visit the community. For Obi, leadership without empathy is leadership without soul. He argued that in moments of mass sorrow, a president’s presence matters—not just for political optics, but for healing and assurance.
But Obi’s remarks didn’t go unanswered.
Enter Daniel Bwala, a lawyer, political analyst, and former spokesperson for the Atiku campaign. Also speaking on Channels TV, Bwala didn’t just dismiss Obi’s criticism—he flipped it on its head. He questioned Obi’s own show of empathy, highlighting that controversial online activist Very Dark Man had actually visited the Yelwata scene and documented the aftermath, sharing disturbing visuals that shocked the nation.
According to Bwala, it was ironic that a social media personality appeared more connected to the victims than a former governor and presidential candidate who hadn’t physically gone there either. “Where was Obi when Very Dark Man was there?” Bwala asked. “Wasn’t he also just making statements from a studio?”
The exchange has sparked fresh debate about what true empathy in leadership looks like. Is it enough to call out the president from afar, or does empathy demand personal action—presence, comfort, and direct engagement?
Still, the heart of this conversation lies in the suffering of Yelwata, where survivors continue to mourn, rebuild, and wait—not just for justice, but for reassurance that their lives matter in Abuja.
Empathy, many would argue, is not just about visits—it’s about action. Yet, in times like these, even symbolic gestures can mean the world. For Yelwata, what they truly crave may not be a war of words on TV, but leaders who will walk their blood-soaked earth, look them in the eye, and say, “We see you. We grieve with you. And we will not forget.”
