Atiku Labels Tinubu’s Benue Visit a ‘Political Spectacle,’ Slams Insecurity Response

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, through his Media Adviser Paul Ibe, sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as a “political spectacle” devoid of genuine empathy for victims of the Yelewata massacre, where over 200 people were killed by suspected armed herders on June 13–14. Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Ibe argued that the visit, intended to mourn the tragedy, was marred by political theatrics, including children waving at Tinubu in the rain, which he deemed unnecessary and insensitive. He highlighted the absence of arrests despite the scale of the attack, accusing security agencies of failing to prevent or investigate the violence while quickly tear-gassing peaceful protesters demanding accountability.

Ibe further criticized the Tinubu administration’s broader governance failures, asserting that appointing politicians rather than security experts to key portfolios reflects a misdiagnosis of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, leading to ineffective solutions. “When you misdiagnose a problem, the solution will be flawed; garbage in, garbage out,” he said. He emphasized that the government’s exclusion of certain regions, religions, and ethnic groups has fueled instability, stating, “Inclusiveness is a tool for national unity. When you alienate people, they create chaos.” Ibe also slammed the administration’s premature focus on the 2027 elections, arguing it distracts from urgent issues like the 6,896 deaths in Benue since May 2023 (Amnesty International) and the lack of new strategies to curb insecurity.

The remarks align with growing public frustration, amplified on X by users like @SaharaReporters and @ChuksEricE, who criticized the visit’s celebratory tone and lack of arrests. Atiku’s critique echoes sentiments from Peter Obi and Dele Farotimi, who also condemned the visit’s optics, with Obi noting South Africa’s Ramaphosa mourned flood victims without fanfare. Tinubu’s directive to form a peace committee under SGF George Akume and deploy special forces, as announced during the visit, has yet to yield arrests, per a June 19 Guardian report, fueling perceptions of inaction. The controversy underscores tensions over Nigeria’s security response, with 2,500 terrorism deaths in Q1 2025 (ACLED) and 2 million IDPs in Benue (diaspora leaders), intensifying calls for systemic reforms like state policing and inclusive governance.