Prominent Arise TV presenters, Reuben Abati and Rufai Oseni, have publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu's approach to visiting the families affected by a recent attack in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The President had visited Jos on Thursday evening, March 2, to offer condolences for the attack in the Angwaum area, which tragically claimed over 30 lives. However, instead of proceeding into the city, President Tinubu addressed government officials and bereaved families at the airport.
During the airport address, President Tinubu mentioned that his departure was imminent due to issues with runway lighting, stating, "You have no light at the airport and I have to fly back within the next ten minutes." This statement drew considerable criticism from the Arise TV anchors.
Analyzing the President's visit on air the following morning, Rufai Oseni described the President's actions as highly "insensitive." Oseni argued that President Tinubu should have traveled into Jos city to visit the actual site of the tragedy and express his condolences directly to the affected families. He questioned the decision to hold the meeting at the airport and the reasoning given for a rushed departure.
"So the President went to Jos but didn't go inside Jos. He was in the airport. I mean, what level of insensitivity to the plight of the people do we have in this country? He had the event at the airport and he was telling them ‘I have time because the airport will soon shut the lights so I have to go.’ Why didn't he go into Jos town? Why didn't he go to where the incident happened? Just like he did with Yelwata. We thought it's a one-off point but it's a pattern," Oseni stated.
Reuben Abati concurred with Oseni's assessment, suggesting that if the President felt intimidated by the insecurity in Plateau State to the point of altering his visit, it raised serious concerns for the state's residents. Abati pointed out that such visits typically involve thorough security briefings and empathy-driven engagement.
"He was poorly advised because what happens is when the President is visiting any part of the country, there would have been security briefings. His security people, whether the guards or the Ministry of Defence, did not understand empathy. What we know is that when a President is going to empathize with people who have faced any form of disaster or tragedy, he goes to the place where the tragedy took place so he can be seen to be identifying with the people," Abati explained.
Abati further commented that it was particularly embarrassing for the President to cite the lack of airport lighting as a reason for an early departure, implying a concern for personal convenience over addressing the grief of victims.
The discussion highlighted a perceived disconnect between the presidency and the reality faced by citizens in affected areas, particularly in situations of national tragedy.
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