The Presidency has provided an explanation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s brief stay at the airport during his visit to Jos, Plateau State, citing a tight schedule and logistical limitations.
Tinubu met families affected by the Angwa Rukuba attack in Jos North Local Government Area, where gunmen killed several people on Sunday. Speaking to the victims at the airport, he 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, whether it’s money in millions, but console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”
The venue was attended by political supporters, traditional rulers, and security personnel.
The decision to meet the victims at the airport sparked strong criticism, with many accusing the president of lacking empathy. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, through his aide Phrank Shaibu, condemned the move, describing it as turning a human tragedy into a “choreographed spectacle” that prioritized optics over dignity.
In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, explained that Tinubu’s Thursday schedule had included receiving Chadian leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Presidential Villa before traveling to Iperu in Ogun State, making a full airport visit unavoidable.
