National Democratic Congress, NDC, youth leader, Paul Moses, has said Peter Obi demonstrated restraint during an incident that prevented him from reaching Yelwata in Benue State, where he planned to meet victims of recent killings.
“Leadership isn’t about showing who has the bigger crowd or the bigger force. It’s about the power of restraint,” Moses said.
Moses made the statement during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday while discussing the incident involving Obi’s visit to the state.
He said Obi’s response to the incident should be viewed as an example of restraint rather than reduced to a political disagreement.
Moses, who said he was present during the visit, argued that the focus should remain on the victims of violence and the need for political leaders to have access to communities affected by insecurity.
“We need to get down to the crux of the matter, which has to do with the value of the human lives that are involved.”
He questioned how political leaders could access communities affected by violence if their movement depended on the approval of incumbent authorities.
“How do we build democracy where access to citizens, particularly those who have been slaughtered, killed, you know, without any roadblock, is now dependent upon the goodwill of incumbent authorities?” he asked.
Moses said the incident should prompt other presidential candidates to visit communities affected by violence and engage directly with victims.
He said Obi’s previous visits to Benue involved engagements with victims, traditional rulers and community officials, adding that the latest visit was different because political actors and Labour Party supporters were involved.
Moses said Obi’s right as a Nigerian citizen to move freely should not be confused with the requirement for security notification during political rallies or organised events.
Peter Obi: ‘Leadership is about the power of restraint’ — Moses Paul