Some residents of Plateau State have lambasted President Bola Tinubu over his handling of Thursday’s condolence visit to the state following the Palm Sunday massacre in Gari Yawaye, Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, where more than 30 people were killed and scores injured.
The residents said rather than proceed to the scene of the attack or visit survivors receiving treatment at hospitals, Tinubu addressed stakeholders at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang, roughly 100 kilometres away from the affected community, before departing the state.
The decision triggered widespread outrage among residents, many of whom took to social media to vent their frustration, arguing that a visit that bypassed the victims entirely fell short of the empathy expected of a leader in times of grief.
First to fire the salvo was Kacholom Luka with this post on Facebook:
“Welcome to Heipang Airport of Plateau State, Mr. President. Are the injured victims of the attack, currently receiving treatment in the hospital, being transported there for your viewing? Should you not be visiting the victims in the hospital? It is well with all of us in this country.
Others were equally scathing. Read their comments below:
“I don’t know our crimes and offenses, but surely I believe God is punishing us with these kinds of leaders we have at the moment. A leader sympathizing and addressing victims in an armored truck, a president sitting and welcoming high dignitaries and stakeholders at the airport.” – Comrade Bright Gyang
“This is the most insensitive, callous, unfeeling, uncaring, thoughtless, and tactless act ever exhibited by a leader whose people have suffered untold hardship. Why did he even come to Plateau in the first place? He could have given his speech in Abuja instead of coming in the first place. The victims were not invited to the airport instead politicians, traditional and religious leaders, and party supporters were the ones invited. What sort of leaders do we have in this country?” – Joel Poret
“This is not what we expected from President Tinubu. No sign of humanity. Don’t worry, we will vote for you at the airport in Heipang in 2027. Tinubu please don’t dare come for a campaign in Jos since you can’t enter now.” – Rhoda Daniel
“His coming is more of a waste of our resources. Since our governor had traveled and informed him of what befell us, his coming doesn’t make much sense. The governor had told him that the steps taken were a waste of resources.
“Was the president not the one who, before the election, came and danced mokossa with us on the Plateau? Today, the same people he danced with in their woe are not worthy of empathy in their woes and sorrow. He chose to stay a stone’s throw away and apply healing balm on the land.
“All I know is that the presence of our leader at tumultuous times, gives us hope, energy, and balls that we are not alone. Their words are therapeutic.” – Kefas Habila
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is holding a stakeholders’ meeting at Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang, Barkin Ladi LGA, over 40 minutes from Angwan Rukuba where the March 29 attack occurred.” – Joey Shekwonuzhibo
“I only pity those who thought President Tinubu would act differently from the bunch of insensitive leaders we have. His antecedents should have been taken into cognizance. Last year when he visited Benue State following the Yelewata killings, he did not go to the affected communities to commiserate with the people. Instead, the visit was turned into a political rally. There have been violence and killings in Kwara, Kaduna, Borno, Niger, Zamfara, and many other states but Tinubu has not visited those states, so I wonder why our people expected something different.” – Aaron Azi
“Typical of Nigerian politicians who do not care about the masses. All they care about is the next election and entrenching their positions.” – Ibrahim Yakubu
“President Bola Tinubu truly disappointed me. I am one of his strongest supporters and I had expected him to act differently from others but he showed the traits of a typical Nigerian politician who doesn’t care about the ordinary people.” – Emma Jando
