- PDP described Tinubu’s Plateau visit as insensitive and inadequate
- Party criticised delayed response and brief airport meeting
- PDP called for broader strategy to tackle insecurity nationwide
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent visit to Plateau State following the deadly attack that claimed more than 40 lives, describing the trip as insensitive and lacking compassion.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said the president’s response to the Palm Sunday killings of March 29, 2026, fell short of the urgency and empathy expected from a national leader.
According to the PDP, the presidency remained silent for over 48 hours after the attack, only reacting after widespread public criticism. The party further alleged that President Tinubu visited Plateau four days later and held a brief meeting with stakeholders and victims at the Jos Airport lounge before returning to Abuja.
“The president’s insensitivity and inhumanity were on full display,” the statement said, accusing him of showing impatience during the visit.
The PDP claimed that Tinubu’s remarks and conduct during the visit did not provide comfort to victims or affected communities, describing the engagement as “performative and superficial.”
“It would have been better for President Tinubu to have stayed back in Abuja than to mount this disgraceful display that added salt to the injury of the victims,” the party stated.
The opposition party also linked the president’s limited engagement in Plateau to the broader security situation, alleging that insecurity has worsened under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
It argued that the president’s inability to move beyond the airport during the visit reflects the severity of insecurity in the region, calling it a troubling sign for the country’s overall safety.
The PDP further criticised the administration’s proposed security measures, including the deployment of 5,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, describing the approach as overly simplistic in addressing complex security challenges.
“It is laughable to suggest that cameras are the panacea for the murderous insecurity ravaging Plateau State and the rest of the country,” the statement added.
The party called on the Federal Government to adopt a more comprehensive strategy, urging a “whole-of-society” approach that prioritises community engagement and collaboration among stakeholders to address insecurity.
The criticism comes amid heightened political tensions and growing concerns over security across Nigeria, particularly in Plateau State, where recurring violence has continued to claim lives and disrupt communities.
Observers say the exchange underscores the widening divide between the ruling party and opposition groups as the country grapples with pressing governance and security challenges.