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A member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has explained why the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not proceed to Yelwata in Benue State after his convoy was stopped by youths.
Obi was travelling along the Gboko-Makurdi road on Tuesday to visit communities and families affected by recent violence in Yelwata when youths stopped his convoy.
The incident prompted criticism in some quarters, with suggestions that the former Anambra State governor should have continued with his planned visit despite the development.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Yesufu said Obi’s decision to discontinue the journey was strategic and had nothing to do with fear.
“I have said this many times, there is no politician in Nigeria that is as courageous as Mr Peter Gregory Obi,” she said.
Yesufu cited Obi’s previous visits to communities affected by insecurity as evidence of his courage, while also comparing his actions with those of other political leaders.
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She specifically referenced Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata and said he had previously visited Benue despite security concerns.
“That same Yelwata that he was going to, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not go there the last time if I am not mistaken, where he said the road or whatever was bad,” Yesufu said.
She added that President Tinubu had visited Jos but did not enter the city, arguing that Obi had demonstrated greater willingness to travel to areas affected by insecurity.
“He went to Jos, that is someone who is supposedly called the Commander in Chief, he couldn’t even enter Jos. Mr Peter Obi has been to Benue before, this time he was going to that same Yelwata,” she added.
According to Yesufu, however, courage must be balanced with strategy, particularly when a situation could escalate unnecessarily.
“But you need to understand something, there is a place where someone has to be strategic. You have a lot of things to do, so if you are fighting people who don’t have work, it doesn’t make any sense at that moment,” she said.
