Atiku Slams Tinubu Plateau Visit, Says Stop Hollow Rhetoric and Secure Nigerian Lives
In a blistering response to the Palm Sunday killings, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar slams Tinubu’s Plateau visit, describing it as a choreographed spectacle that prioritized optics over genuine empathy for grieving families.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his handling of the recent visit to Plateau State. Through a statement by his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, the former VP described Tinubu’s visit as yet another troubling indication of a pattern of detachment from the suffering of Nigerians.
What Tinubu Did — And Didn’t Do
According to Atiku, 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 reduced 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 noted that in Plateau, the President neither visited the bereaved families nor the injured receiving treatment in hospitals. “He offered no concrete policy direction, no decisive security intervention, and no reassurance that such horrors would not recur. Instead, he 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”.
A Choreographed Spectacle?
What made the visit worse, according to Atiku, was how it was staged. He described the government’s decision to transport grieving citizens from distant parts of Jos Municipal to the airport in Heipang near Barkin Ladi “merely to stage an appearance before the President.” At a time when families were in deep mourning, such actions reduced genuine human tragedy to a choreographed spectacle. “This is not only inappropriate; it is shameful,” Atiku stated.
Atiku further claimed the visit appeared hurried so the president could travel to Lagos for the Easter holidays. He accused the president of turning what should have been a solemn condolence visit into a political engagement with party supporters in Jos. “While families continue to mourn those slaughtered on Palm Sunday, the President chose to convert what ought to have been a solemn visit into a political spectacle”.
A Consistent and Troubling Pattern
Atiku’s criticism extended beyond just this visit. He stated “This approach mirrors his earlier conduct in Benue State in June 2025, when a condolence visit over a deadly attack conspicuously avoided the epicentre in Yelwata, only to devolve into a political rally. The repetition of this pattern is no longer accidental, it is now a consistent and troubling habit”.
Atiku declared “This is not leadership, it is indifference dressed as protocol. A leader who cannot stand with his people in their darkest hour cannot convincingly claim to be fighting for their safety”.
What Nigerians Actually Deserve
At the heart of Atiku’s criticism is a simple but powerful demand from ordinary Nigerians. He reiterated that Nigerians are not asking for ceremonial appearances or fleeting sympathy visits. “What they demand and deserve is a government that can secure lives and property. They do not need to see the President’s face; they need to feel the impact of his leadership”.
He concluded by stressing that meaningful action must replace what he described as superficial engagements. “Until this administration moves beyond optics and embraces decisive, people-centred action, such visits will remain hollow exercises, detached from the very citizens they are meant to comfort”.
Tinubu’s Side of the Story
It is important to note that Tinubu’s visit wasn’t entirely without substance. President Tinubu directed security agencies to track down and apprehend those responsible for the killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North LGA. The deadly incident occurred on Palm Sunday when suspected bandits attacked a popular bar in the community, leaving over 28 people dead and many others injured.
During the visit, the President met with a grieving mother whose anguish had gone viral after she was seen clutching the lifeless body of her son. Addressing her by name, Tinubu acknowledged her loss and assured affected families of government support. Speaking through his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the President described the incidents as “barbaric and cowardly,” vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice.
To bolster security in Plateau, Tinubu announced that the Federal Government would deploy 5,000 CCTV cameras across the state to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid response to security threats.
The Bigger Question
As Atiku slams Tinubu’s Plateau visit, the debate raises a deeper question about Nigerian leadership during national tragedies. Amnesty International has repeatedly documented recurring violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, raising concerns about the absence of long-term security strategies beyond condolence visits and promises.
Whether Tinubu’s visit was genuinely inadequate or politically misrepresented, the Palm Sunday killings demand more than airport meetings and CCTV announcements. The families of the over 28 people killed in Angwan Rukuba deserve real answers, real justice, and real security not a government that measures its response in photo opportunities.
