Author Critiques President Tinubu's Brief Jos Visit Amidst Violence

Reactions continue to trail President Bola Tinubu's visit to Jos, particularly in the aftermath of the violence that erupted in the Angwan Rukuba area on Palm Sunday. Many observers have expressed disapproval of the event, with the author of this piece deeming it a significant misstep for the current administration.

From the President's demeanor to his address and the overall arrangements, the visit is described as a major organizational failure within an administration already marked by several such instances over its three-year tenure. The article suggests that further doubts about the visit's effectiveness were substantiated by various aspects of the planned itinerary.

It is suggested that President Tinubu may not have initially been inclined to undertake the visit. Intense lobbying might have prompted the trip, perhaps for political optics or because the national chairman of the ruling party, Professor Yiltwada Nentawe, is from Plateau State. Consequently, the visit is portrayed not as a sincere condolence mission, but rather as a politically motivated engagement to project an image of care for the people of Plateau State.

Furthermore, the article questions the decision to require grieving relatives of the violence victims to travel over 40 kilometers from Angwan Rukuba, the site of the incident, to Yakubu Gowon Airport in Barkin Ladi Local Government. Considering that this journey spans four local government areas—Jos North, Jos East, Jos South, and Barkin Ladi—the author highlights the significant inconvenience this arrangement would cause for the victims' families. The central question posed is whether the visit was organized for the convenience of President Tinubu or for the victims of the Angwan Rukuba violence.

Adding to these concerns, President Tinubu himself reportedly indicated the brevity of his visit, stating at the airport that he had only ten minutes due to the facility's lack of power for night flights. This raises questions about accountability, especially since the Yakubu Gowon airport is managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), an agency under the supervision of the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo. The author questions who is responsible for this critical limitation, suggesting that the President should have been informed of this constraint before departing Abuja and questions why the visit proceeded despite the limited time for a meaningful engagement.

An implicit question is raised about whether President Tinubu needed to be persuaded to visit Jos to offer condolences for the renewed bloodshed in the state. The author posits that as president and commander-in-chief, sworn to protect the people, such a visit should be an inherent obligation. The scale and recurring nature of violence in Plateau State, including the Angwan Rukuba incident, are presented as compelling reasons for a presidential summit with stakeholders to address the persistent issues. The article questions if Plateau is merely a strategically convenient location for President Tinubu's 2027 election calculations, implying that the state's residents are disregarded, especially in light of continuous violence.

Despite not being a native of Plateau State, the author expresses a deep personal connection, having lived in Jos since 1970. The piece evokes memories of the city's past and its surrounding areas, which were familiar routes during childhood. The author conveys profound disappointment with the perceived dismissive handling of the opportunity to demonstrate that lives in Plateau matter, given the state's recurrent experiences with violence.

In this context, the author unequivocally asserts that President Tinubu's visit to Jos cannot genuinely be characterized as a condolence visit to the victims of the Angwan Rukuba violence. The visit is described as lacking in sympathy, empathy, appropriate timing, and consideration for the convenience of the victims and their families. It is also seen as showing insufficient respect for prominent figures from the state, such as former Head of State General Gowon and the late Deputy Senate President Nasiru Mantu. The visit is characterized as a snub to figures like Senator David Jonah Jang and APC Chairman Professor Nentawe, who were present at the airport. The author questions how President Tinubu expects these respected individuals to garner support for his candidacy among Plateau residents when they are seemingly treated with contempt during a critical time of need.

If the presidency considers the Jos visit a genuine act of condolence to the people of Jos and Plateau State, the author argues it should reconsider. To Nigerians, the visit is perceived as 'Tinubusque,' marked by self-interest, self-aggrandizement, and a sense of entitlement, rather than reflecting the empathy and shared grief expected from a president and leader during a period of significant loss and mourning.