Atiku Slams Tinubu’s Prolonged French Stay Amid Escalating Bloodshed in Benue, Plateau
As scores of Nigerians continue to fall victim to relentless waves of violence in Benue and Plateau states, President Bola Tinubu’s continued absence from the country has drawn sharp criticism from former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
In a strongly worded statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Atiku condemned Tinubu’s decision to remain in France since April 2, despite the deteriorating security situation back home. He accused the President of abandoning his constitutional responsibilities and called his trip “a vacation cloaked in official jargon.”
Rising Death Toll, Diminishing Leadership
Since March 9, Benue and Plateau states have witnessed renewed and deadly attacks, reportedly by suspected Fulani herdsmen and unidentified gunmen. At least 15 lives were lost in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, while a recent massacre in Zike hamlet, Kimakpa community of Bassa LGA in Plateau claimed 52 lives, wiping out entire families and reducing homes to ashes.
Despite these tragedies, Tinubu has remained in France under the guise of a “working visit,” raising questions not only about the urgency of his engagements abroad but also about the government’s commitment to national security and public welfare.
Atiku: “Nigeria Is Bleeding, the President Is Feasting”
Atiku’s statement did not mince words. “On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu flew out to France. Had this absurd announcement come just a day earlier, Nigerians would have dismissed it as an April Fool’s joke. But sadly, it’s no prank — just another insult to a nation pushed to the brink by a presidency that treats its citizens like fools,” the statement read.
He challenged the justification for Tinubu’s stay abroad, arguing that the so-called working visit has become a convenient escape route while the country descends into chaos. “What kind of leader borrows billions only to blow scarce funds on vanity trips abroad?” he asked. “It’s not just irresponsible — it’s contemptuous.”
59 Days in France and Counting
According to Atiku, President Tinubu would have spent a cumulative 59 days in France since assuming office — a statistic he says symbolizes a disconnect between the President and the realities facing everyday Nigerians.
“While Tinubu dines under chandeliers in the land of good governance, the country he governs is spiralling into chaos,” Atiku charged. “Plateau has become a killing field, Benue is bleeding, Boko Haram is regaining territory, and every single day Nigerians sink deeper into poverty, insecurity, and despair.”
“This Is Dereliction of Duty”
Atiku described the President’s prolonged absence as more than a lapse in judgment — calling it a catastrophic dereliction of duty. “There is absolutely nothing Tinubu is doing in France that he couldn’t do in Lagos or even in Iragbiji,” he stated.
He criticized what he called a double standard in governance, referencing the President’s swift response to a political dispute in Rivers State, compared to his silence over the spate of killings in the North Central region.
“Nigeria is in a full-blown state of emergency. Not a contrived political emergency like the one Tinubu declared in Rivers for partisan gain — this is a national collapse,” Atiku said. “If Tinubu had even a shred of empathy, he would cut his trip short and return immediately.”
A Call for Accountability
Invoking the Nigerian Constitution, Atiku reminded the presidency that the “security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” He argued that Tinubu has failed to uphold this basic tenet.
Atiku’s statement resonates with growing public frustration over rising insecurity, increasing economic hardship, and what critics see as a pattern of leadership detachment and indifference.
As pressure mounts, questions persist: how long can Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief stay away while the country continues to burn?
Reference
Atiku Slams Tinubu’s Prolonged French Stay Amid Escalating Bloodshed in Benue, Plateau