In a scathing critique, Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, has condemned President Bola Tinubu for failing to visit Yelwata town in Benue State, where a devastating attack by suspected herdsmen resulted in the loss of over 200 lives. This criticism came during Adebayo’s appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday.
President Tinubu had visited Benue on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in a gesture of condolence to the people of the state over the tragic killings. However, Adebayo argued that the President’s decision not to visit the specific location of the attack, Yelwata, was unacceptable. He emphasized that as the commander-in-chief, it is the President’s duty to ensure that no part of the country is inaccessible to him, especially in times of crisis. Adebayo stressed, “He cannot say as commander-in-chief, there is a part of the country that is unreachable by you. People are living there.”
Furthermore, Adebayo criticized the President’s visit to Benue, stating that it was politicized and lacked the empathy and solemnity such an occasion warranted. He noted that the event felt more like a political rally than a somber occasion to mourn the loss of lives. Adebayo said, “Going to a place of mourning that even during the Nigerian civil war, it would be newsworthy if there were 200 lives lost at one time. So, such a place is a somber occasion and he is in charge of all the people who followed him there. But what do you get there? It was like another political rally. That sombreness was not there.”
Adebayo urged the President to have approached the situation with more gravity, emphasizing that his language and demeanor should have reflected the seriousness of the tragedy. He advocated for the President to have conducted himself as a chief mourner, ensuring his language was controlled and reflective of the somber nature of the occasion. This criticism highlights the deep-seated concerns about the government’s response to violence and its commitment to the welfare and security of all citizens, regardless of their geographical location within the country.
