“VeryDarkMan Has More Empathy Than Peter Obi” – Presidency

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has criticized Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, describing him as an “internally displaced politician” and stating that social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has shown more empathy than the former Anambra governor.

Bwala made the comments during an appearance on *Politics Today*, a programme on Channels Television. He was responding to Obi’s criticism of President Tinubu for not visiting Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State following recent attacks and killings in the region.

According to Bwala, Obi’s remarks are insincere and politically motivated. “VeryDarkMan has more empathy than Peter Obi. He is not a politician, but he went to Benue. Why does Peter Obi have to wait until he becomes president before he gets to Benue? Empathy is personal,” Bwala said.

He defended the president’s decision not to personally visit Yelewata, arguing that leadership involves prioritizing responsibilities. “If the president were physically in Yelewata, would that have changed the situation? This rhetoric from Obi and the opposition is empty; they have nothing meaningful to say.”

Bwala further accused Obi and other opposition figures of constantly shifting narratives to suit political objectives. “Now that the president went to Benue, they ask why he didn’t go to Yelewata. That shifting of goalpost is typical of internally displaced politicians.”

Addressing Obi’s criticism that Tinubu was commissioning projects instead of visiting communities affected by violence, Bwala explained that the president acts through representatives as allowed under Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution. “The National Security Adviser, military officers, and intelligence agents have all been to crisis areas. These individuals represent the president. Unless Peter Obi does not understand Section 5, he should know this,” Bwala added.