October 06, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu’s weekend visit to Plateau State where he attended the funeral service for Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof, Nentawe Yilwatda, has continued to draw criticism from the opposition and approval from APC supporters, with the African Democratic Congress, ADC and Senator Adams Oshiomole on Sunday sharply divided over the visit, after a previous scathing comment from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The President had on Saturday attended the funeral at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, in Jos, Plateau State where he appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace and tolerance and assured Christian communities in Northern Nigeria of his administration’s commitment to ensuring fairness among all religions in the country.
Reacting on Sunday, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, described the visit as a publicity stunt for political gain in the face of mounting insecurity and violence that should deserve serious attention from the President.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described what he perceived as the “brazen insensitivity of President Bola Tinubu to the growing insecurity in the country,” as disturbing.
He said that as the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in whom the constitutional authority to secure the lives and property of citizens is vested, “the President’s continued preference for attending social and political events” in the midst of alarming deterioration of internal security is “unacceptable and irresponsible.”
Citing reports that armed bandits had attacked several local government areas in Kwara State and forced residents to make ransom payments in cash and kind, the recent incidents in Kogi where travellers were killed and others abducted, as well as the closure of over 180 schools across the northern states due to safety concerns, Abdullahi, wondered when the President would ever find time to comfort the victims of the incidents, condole with the bereaved and restore hope to the displaced.
“These reports form a part of a broader and bloodier pattern. From Plateau to Zamfara, Benue to Niger, Kaduna to Kwara, incidents of mass abductions, violent attacks, and forced displacement continue to rise. While rural communities are being emptied and schools are being shut down, the President continues to attend funerals and ceremonies involving political associates. This sends the unfortunate message that the President cares more about political appearances than the lives of Nigerian citizens,” Abdullahi further said.
He described as “political rhetoric,” the President’s statement at the Jos event that he “has a mission to unite this country, ensure its prosperity and make progress,” saying, “The symbolism of national unity, no matter how well delivered, cannot replace the responsibility to truly unite, even with simple actions of showing up wherever the people need you, not when you need to make political appearances for your friends.”
He urged the Federal Government to take urgent, remedial steps to address the insecurity in the country through continued engagement with affected communities, continuous support for the armed forces and public enlightenment of the citizenry.
“The lives of Nigerians must matter more than sound bites and ceremonies. The time for symbolic gestures is over. What the country needs now is responsible leadership, operational urgency and measurable results,” he added.
In his defence of the President’s visit, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, took on Atiku Abubakar on his criticism of the President’s visit.
Speaking during a national television interview on Sunday, Oshiomhole said that the former Vice President was fond of playing politics with every matter.
“I have sympathy for Atiku. He has allowed himself to be consumed by politics. Everything he sees, he interprets through the eyes of partisanship,” Oshiomhole said.
According to him, it is customary for the President to go to any state and commiserate with the governor representing the collective spirit of the people of that state.
“The President went to Benue to celebrate Christmas. He went to Benue to celebrate his birthday. So, he has to go to the particular location or in the case of the mother of the APC National Chairman, did he go to the village where the woman was born or where the woman is going to be buried?” the senator said.
Atiku in his earlier criticism on Saturday maintained that President Tinubu’s visit missed the mark of public sympathy. According to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, the President’s visit was “a sad reflection of priorities and a mockery of leadership.”
In a message posted on his X handle, Atiku said, “With large swathes of the country still under siege from unrelenting insecurity and thousands of innocent lives lost, 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.”
He added, “Between the APC National Chairman and his President, what we witnessed today is a heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion and the dignity of human life.”
THEWILL recalls that the funeral attracted dignitaries from across political divides in the country. They included President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, AbdulRazaq Abdulrahman; APC Governors; NSA Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Minister of State (Petroleum) Heinekin Lokpobiri; Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh; and Special Duties Minister, Zephaniah Jisalo.
Also present were the SGF, George Akume and his predecessor, Boss Mustapha, as well as former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura; former Governor Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi; Fidelis Tapgun of Plateau; Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Rochas Okorocha of Imo and former House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
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