‘Leadership is about restraint’ — NDC youth leader backs Obi over Benue incident

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth leader, Paul Moses, has praised Peter Obi for showing restraint during the incident that prevented the former Anambra State governor from reaching Yelwata in Benue State.

Obi had planned to visit the community to meet victims and residents affected by recent killings in the state.

Moses spoke on Wednesday during an interview with ARISE News, where he discussed the circumstances surrounding Obi’s visit and the subsequent disruption.

According to him, the incident should not be framed as a political confrontation between individuals or parties, but should instead draw attention to the victims of violence and the communities affected by the killings.

“Leadership isn’t about showing who has the bigger crowd or the bigger force. It’s about the power of restraint,” Moses said.

He warned that turning the development into a political dispute could shift attention away from the people who lost their lives and those still dealing with the consequences of violence.

“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.”

Moses, who said he was present during Obi’s visit, also questioned whether political leaders should require the approval of incumbent authorities before they can reach communities affected by insecurity.

“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.

He urged other presidential candidates to visit communities affected by violence and engage directly with victims and residents.

Moses recalled that Obi’s previous visits to Benue had involved meetings with victims, traditional rulers and community representatives. He, however, said the latest visit took a different turn because political actors and Labour Party supporters were also involved.

“Obi has the right to move freely as a Nigerian citizen, although security notification is required for political rallies and other organised events,” he said.

He maintained that while proper security coordination was necessary for organised political activities, it should not be used to restrict a citizen’s access to communities affected by violence.