Atiku Slams Tinubu for Attending Plateau Funeral Instead of Consoling Insecurity Victims

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent visit to Plateau State. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

On Saturday, October 4, Tinubu traveled to Jos to attend the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. Atiku, however, faulted the visit, accusing the president of prioritizing political functions over showing compassion to victims of persistent violence in the state.

In a statement shared on his official X handle, Atiku described Tinubu’s decision as “a sad reflection of misplaced priorities and a mockery of leadership.”

“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,” Atiku wrote.

The former vice president noted that Plateau has suffered some of the deadliest attacks in North Central Nigeria, yet Tinubu’s visit was not to console displaced families or offer reassurance, but to “grace a political associate’s funeral.”

“At a time when families are burying loved ones, the president chose to attend a political funeral instead of standing with the victims. It is a glaring mockery of leadership and a heartless disregard for empathy and compassion,” Atiku stated.

He further recalled that even when Tinubu visited Benue State in June, he avoided Yelewata—the epicenter of recent killings—choosing instead to stay in Makurdi. According to Atiku, the president’s repeated actions send a clear message of indifference to the suffering of citizens.

“From Benue to Niger, and most recently Kwara, the entire North Central has endured horrific waves of violence. Yet, not once has the APC-led government stood physically by the victims. Now again, the president goes to Plateau, not to console the people, but to make merry with his party elite while the people mourn,” he added.

Atiku concluded by saying Nigerians are watching and will remember the president’s actions, warning that leadership must be rooted in empathy, not celebration in the face of grief.