Tinubu Chose Political Event Over Empathy For Insecurity Victims — Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for attending a burial ceremony in Plateau State amid the country’s worsening security crisis, describing the action as a display of misplaced priorities and lack of empathy.

President Tinubu was in Jos on Saturday for the funeral of Lydia Yilwatda, the mother of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda. Atiku, however, condemned the president’s decision to attend what he termed a “political funeral” instead of visiting communities devastated by insecurity across the North Central region.

According to the former vice president, thousands of Nigerians are still grappling with grief from unrelenting attacks by bandits and terrorists, yet the president has never deemed it necessary to visit or commiserate with the victims in their states. He said Tinubu’s visit to Plateau, one of the most terrorized parts of the country, was not to console the people but to socialize under the auspices of his party.

Atiku described the president’s action as “a sad reflection of priorities and a mockery of leadership.” He noted that while families continue to bury their loved ones in Plateau and neighbouring states, the president chose to grace a political gathering, further widening the gap between leadership and the suffering citizens.

Neglect Amid Worsening Insecurity

Atiku accused the APC-led administration of neglecting the plight of citizens living under constant threat from terrorists and armed groups across the North Central. He cited the continued attacks in Benue, Niger, Kwara, and Plateau as evidence of the government’s failure to respond with urgency or compassion.

He recalled that during a symbolic visit to Benue in June, the president failed to visit Yelewata, the epicentre of one of the region’s deadliest massacres, instead limiting his stop to Makurdi. For Atiku, this pattern of avoidance underscores an unwillingness to confront the human cost of insecurity.

The former vice president stressed that Tinubu’s appearance in Jos was not an act of solidarity with the victims but a show of loyalty to his party’s hierarchy. He argued that such behaviour exposes a leadership that prioritises politics and optics over the safety and emotional well-being of citizens.

“The message could not be clearer,” Atiku said. “This is a leader who finds pleasure where the people find pain.”

He accused the president of failing to provide moral or physical support to grieving communities across the country, despite repeated calls for action and empathy. The statement, which quickly spread across social media, drew mixed reactions, with many Nigerians echoing Atiku’s sentiment about government insensitivity to the nation’s security situation.

Public Reactions And Growing Discontent

Atiku’s criticism comes at a time of mounting frustration among Nigerians over the federal government’s handling of insecurity. Plateau, Benue, Niger, and Kaduna have suffered repeated attacks that have displaced thousands and left countless others dead.

Security analysts and civil society groups have also questioned the administration’s commitment to peacebuilding, arguing that symbolic gestures of empathy are crucial in uniting a nation under siege.

Observers say Atiku’s comments reflect a growing political divide between the ruling party and opposition figures, but also highlight a shared national concern, the apparent disconnect between leadership and the people’s suffering.

As the debate continues, the president’s presence in Jos remains a contentious point, viewed by critics as tone-deaf and by supporters as a simple act of solidarity with a bereaved party member. However, for many Nigerians, the broader question persists: in the face of unending bloodshed, where does empathy stand in the current administration’s priorities?