Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his weekend visit to Plateau State, where the President attended the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Atiku, in a post on his verified X account on Saturday, described the visit as a “sad reflection of priorities,” accusing Tinubu of choosing a political social function over showing solidarity with citizens devastated by ongoing violence in the region.
Plateau State has been one of the worst-hit regions by unending violence in recent years – from banditry to communal clashes, with thousands displaced and communities destroyed. Several villages in Bokkos, Mangu, and Riyom LGAs have seen repeated attacks, yet survivors say they feel abandoned by the federal government.
In his statement, Atiku asked a pointed question: “With large swathes of the country under siege… why has President Tinubu never visited any affected state to console grieving Nigerians?”
This isn’t the first time the federal government’s silence has drawn criticism. Residents have often lamented that while condolences come from press statements, no high-level visit has been made to truly assess the damage or show empathy.
Critics say Tinubu’s attendance at the funeral of a top APC figure, while ignoring the trauma of citizens, sends a troubling message – that political loyalty ranks above human suffering.
Atiku, who contested against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential elections, has consistently criticised the administration’s approach to insecurity. His latest comments seem to echo what many Nigerians on social media have been saying: the government appears detached from the everyday pain of its people.
