Nigerians have criticized President Bola Tinubu for choosing to speak to the people of Plateau State from the departure lounge of Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang instead of going into Jos.
The airport is roughly 40 minutes from Jos, the state capital, where a recent attacks happened.
Tinubu visited the state after the deadly violence that killed 28 people and injured 22 others.
In another attack, more than 50 residents were reportedly killed after gunmen stormed Kimakpa village in Bassa Local Government Area.
The president landed at Yakubu Gowon Airport on Thursday evening, where he held a meeting with key stakeholders and some of the victims.
While speaking to the victims and their families, Tinubu said that he only had about 10 minutes before leaving because the airport had no electricity to remain operational for long.
He also seemed eager to return to Lagos for the Easter holiday, promising that his government will do its best to support the victims and bring calm to Jos.
The president said, “You have no light at the airport, and I have to fly back within the next 10 minutes.
“To the victims, there’s nothing I can give you but promise you this experience will not repeat itself.”
Since the visit, many people have criticized the president over how brief the trip was, the fact that he stayed at the airport, and the decision to have victims brought there to meet him.
See some reactions below:
Ridwan Oke, a lawyer with the handle @RidwanuLlah on X, wrote: “The President has no business going to Jos if he was going to turn at the Airport.
“If it was a campaign, he would enter the nooks and crannies of that state to solicit votes.
“Lives were lost, citizens are panicking and all you could do was a consolation speech at the AirPort?
“Even had the relatives who had just lost their people dress up to meet him. A waste of everybody’s time.”
@FemiBallHard_LV tweeted: “First, the governor of Jos went on a supposed condolence visit in an armored truck to go see his own people.
“The President of the country couldn’t travel down to the actual attack sites to see the looks of things but instead decided to address the people from the Airport.”
@peace_igho said: “So all the epistle Tinubu wrote on Twitter about going to Jos was to just stop at the airport??”
@Nedumcity_ wrote: “President Tinubu went to Plateau State Airport to talk to Airplanes, when will he visit Jos to talk and commiserate with families and victims of Jos killings?”
“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
KanyiDaily recalls that Plateau Government announced a 48-hour curfew in Jos North Local Government Area after the deadly attack in the Angwan Rukuba area.
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