Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau State, questioning the administration’s priorities as insecurity continues to devastate communities in Nigeria’s North Central region.
Tinubu travelled to Jos on Saturday to attend the funeral of Lydia Yilwatda, mother of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The visit immediately drew sharp criticism from Atiku, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, who argued that the President should have been consoling victims of violent attacks rather than attending a politically significant funeral.
In a statement posted on social media, Atiku described the visit as “a sad reflection of priorities and a glaring mockery of leadership.” He highlighted the ongoing insecurity across the region, saying it was troubling that the President chose to attend what he called a “political funeral” instead of visiting communities still reeling from violence.
“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,” Atiku said. He noted that thousands of lives have been lost while families continue burying loved ones across the North Central region.
Plateau State and surrounding areas have been particularly affected. Between December 2023 and February 2024, Amnesty International reported at least 1,336 deaths in Plateau alone, with over 420 attacks occurring between 2021 and 2024, displacing tens of thousands of residents.
Atiku also recalled Tinubu’s June visit to Benue State, noting the President never went to Yelewata, the site of a major massacre, choosing instead to remain in the state capital, Makurdi. “Even when Tinubu made a symbolic visit to Benue State in June, he never bothered to set foot in Yelewata, the epicenter of the massacre,” Atiku said.
Describing Saturday’s visit as a “heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion, and the dignity of human life,” Atiku argued that the President’s presence at a party chairman’s family funeral, while avoiding direct engagement with affected communities, sent troubling signals about government priorities.
The North Central region, including Plateau, Benue, Niger, and Kwara states, continues to experience severe insecurity, often driven by land disputes, conflicts between herding and farming communities, and criminal activities. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 1.3 million people were internally displaced in the region by April 2024.
Atiku concluded by warning that Nigerians are watching presidential actions closely. “The message could not be clearer: this is a President who would rather feast than feel. The Nigerian people are watching, and they will remember.”
The Presidency has not yet responded to Atiku’s remarks, leaving the controversy to fuel ongoing debates over the government’s handling of the country’s persistent security challenges.
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