Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau State, accusing him of prioritizing political festivities over the pain and suffering of Nigerians caught in the crossfire of unrelenting violence in the North Central region.
In a strongly worded statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Atiku described Tinubu’s presence at a social event hosted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman in Plateau as a “glaring mockery of leadership” and a betrayal of the victims of insecurity.
“With large swathes of the country still under siege from unrelenting insecurity and thousands of innocent lives lost,” Atiku wrote, “it is deeply unfortunate that President Bola Tinubu has not, for once, found it worthy to visit any of the affected states to commiserate with the grieving citizens.”
The former presidential candidate highlighted the ongoing devastation across the North Central, particularly in Benue, Niger, Kwara, and Plateau states, lamenting that the federal government has shown little empathy or physical presence in the affected communities.
“Today, however, the President suddenly remembered Plateau State, one of the most terrorized parts of the North Central, not to share in the people’s pain, but to attend a social event under the auspices of his party’s national chairman,” Atiku noted, in what he described as a “sad reflection of priorities.”
He continued: “Between the APC National Chairman and his President, what we witnessed today is a heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion, and the dignity of human life.”
Atiku also criticized Tinubu’s past visits to conflict-hit states, particularly citing a symbolic stop in Benue State earlier in June. “Even when Tinubu made a symbolic visit to Benue State… he never bothered to set foot in Yelewata, the epicentre of the massacre. Instead, he ended his trip comfortably in Makurdi, turning his back on the people whose tears and blood still stain the soil.”
The former vice president’s remarks come amid growing public concern over the government’s response to escalating insecurity and humanitarian crises in the country’s Middle Belt.
In his concluding words, Atiku warned that the people are watching: “The message could not be clearer: this is a President who would rather feast than feel—a leader who finds pleasure where the people find pain.
“The Nigerian people are watching, and they will remember.”
The Presidency has yet to respond to Atiku’s criticisms.
