Jos: Tinubu never left airport, victims transported to meet him, Atiku alleges

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Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu.

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By Omeiza Ajayi

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Thursday visit to Jos, the Plateau State capital, alleging that the president failed to visit the sites of recent killings and instead remained within the confines of the airport.

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In a statement released on Thursday evening, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the visit as a “choreographed spectacle” that prioritised political optics over genuine empathy for the victims of the Palm Sunday attacks.

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The former Vice President expressed deep concern over what he termed a “pattern of detachment” from the hardships facing Nigerians.

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He claimed the president’s assessment of the security situation was superficial and lacked the gravity required for a national tragedy.

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“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,” the statement read.

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Atiku further alleged that the visit was “hurriedly curtailed” to allow the president travel to Lagos for the Easter holidays, calling the move a “deeply troubling prioritisation in the face of national grief.”

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He also condemned the treatment of the survivors and the bereaved. According to Atiku, rather than the president visiting hospitals or affected communities, the government transported victims to the airport to meet him.

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“Even more disturbing is 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.

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“At a time when families are in deep mourning, such actions reduce genuine human tragedy to a choreographed spectacle—prioritising optics over empathy and dignity. This is not only inappropriate; it is shameful”, he declared.

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Atiku argued that this incident was not isolated, drawing parallels to a June 2025 visit to Benue State.

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He claimed that during that visit, the president similarly avoided the epicentre of violence in Yelwata, only for the event to “devolve into a political rally.”

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In the case of Plateau, Atiku noted that while the president met with politicians and traditional rulers at the airport, he offered no “concrete policy direction” or “decisive security intervention” to prevent future horrors.

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“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”, the former vice president stated.

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Atiku emphasised that Nigerians are weary of ceremonial gestures and are demanding tangible results in the fight against insecurity.

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He said, “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.”

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