ATIKU CRITICIZES TINUBU OVER PLATEAU CONDOLENCE VISIT
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Plateau State, calling it a troubling sign of a widening gap between leadership and the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed deep concern over the President’s response to the killings in parts of Plateau, saying the visit lacked the empathy and urgency the tragedy demanded.
The African Democratic Congress chieftain said the Plateau incidents revealed “a disturbing and unacceptable approach to national tragedy.”
He added, “It is both shocking and deeply insensitive that several days after the gruesome killings of innocent citizens, the President’s so-called ‘on-the-spot assessment’ was limited to a brief stop at the foot of his aircraft, never extending beyond the airport, never reaching the grieving communities, and never touching the pain of the victims.”
“Atiku described the visit as even more troubling, suggesting it was hurriedly cut short so the President could return to Lagos for the Easter holidays, a decision he said shows misplaced priorities amid national grief.
“While families continue to mourn those killed on Palm Sunday, the President turned what should have been a solemn visit into a political spectacle, meeting party loyalists in Jos under the guise of official engagement. This is not leadership; it is indifference disguised as protocol,” he added.
He further argued that the President’s handling of the Plateau visit reflects a recurring pattern of insensitive and politically motivated responses to national tragedies.
He recalled a similar condolence visit to Benue State in June 2025, which, he said, bypassed the worst-affected community and instead became a political gathering, suggesting that such incidents reflect a consistent pattern rather than an isolated lapse.
“Atiku criticised the President for failing to visit the bereaved families or the injured receiving treatment in hospitals in Plateau. He said no concrete policy measures, decisive security interventions, or assurances were offered to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
“Instead, the President staged a meet-and-greet within the confines of the airport, surrounded by politicians, traditional rulers, and party operatives—far removed from the anguish of the people. This is not only inappropriate; it is shameful. A leader who cannot stand with his people in their darkest hour cannot convincingly claim to be fighting for their safety,” Atiku stated.
His remarks came hours after President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State following last Sunday’s deadly attacks in Jos, particularly in the Angwan Rukuba area, where at least 27 people were reported killed.
During the visit, the President met a grieving mother whose anguish had gone viral after she was seen clutching the lifeless body of her son, along with other victims of the attacks.
Speaking directly to her, Tinubu acknowledged her loss and assured affected families of government support, stressing that no compensation could replace lost lives.
Through his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the attacks as “barbaric and cowardly,” vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice.
On his arrival in Jos, the President was received by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, and other senior government officials.
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