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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for attending a social event in Plateau State despite escalating insecurity in the north-central region.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described it as “deeply unfortunate” that Tinubu has not visited any of the states affected by violent attacks to sympathise with grieving communities.
“With vast areas of the country under siege from relentless insecurity and thousands of innocent lives lost, it is deeply regrettable that President Bola Tinubu has never once considered visiting the affected states to commiserate with the bereaved,” Atiku said.
He condemned Tinubu’s trip to Plateau — which he described as “one of the most terrorised parts of the North Central” — noting that it was not to comfort victims but “to attend a social event hosted by his party’s national chairman.”
Atiku called the president’s action “a sad reflection of misplaced priorities and a glaring mockery of leadership.” He accused Tinubu of choosing “to attend a political gathering while families in Plateau continue to bury their loved ones.”
“Between the APC national chairman and his president, what we witnessed today is a heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion, and the sanctity of human life,” he added.
The former vice-president also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of abandoning victims of violence across Benue, Niger, Kwara, and other parts of the north-central region.
“From Benue to Niger and most recently Kwara, the entire North Central region has suffered some of the worst episodes of violence in recent memory. Yet, the APC government has not considered it necessary to stand with the victims or console their families,” Atiku stated.
He recalled that during Tinubu’s visit to Benue in June, “he failed to visit Yelewata — the epicentre of the massacre — and ended his trip in Makurdi, turning his back on those whose tears and blood still stain the soil.”
“Now again, he is in Plateau State, not to comfort the bereaved or reassure the broken, but to celebrate with his party elite while the people mourn,” he said.
“The message is clear: this is a president who prefers feasting to feeling — a leader who finds pleasure where the people find pain. Nigerians are watching, and they will remember.”
