Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Taraba and planned visit to Benue, Zamfara, Yobe and Rivers states, as an after-thought.
In a statement issued on his behalf by Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media, Fayose wondered why the president “refused” to visit the people immediately after the killings and abduction.
He likened the president to a selfish king who went on making merry while his people were in agony only to show up when the people had already buried their loved ones that were gruesomely murdered, gotten over their anguish and moved on with their lives.
Fayose said it is obvious that Buhari is visiting those states because of his reelection bid.
“Obviously, the president is more concerned about his reelection in 2019 and his visit to those states that he abandoned during their times of trouble is to seek for votes, not to sympathise with the people of the states on their loses,” Fayose said.
“On January 9 and 12, this year, 88 victims of herdsmen attacks were given mass burial in Taraba state. Also on January 11, 2018, another 73 persons killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue state were buried in a mass grave in Makurdi, the state capital.
“Meaning that in Taraba and Benue states alone, 161 Nigerians were given mass burial within three days! This never caught the attention of our president. Rather, it was a visit to Nasarawa, a neighbouring state to Benue that was important to him.
“To further demonstrate his lack of compassion for Nigerians, while the entire nation, especially parents of the 110 abducted school girls in Dapchi, Yobe state are still in anguish, President Buhari went to Kano last Saturday to attend a social function, thus sparking negative reactions from Nigerians.
“Apparently, it was the negative reactions of Nigerians, especially on social media and the effects on the president’s reelection bid that necessitated his hurried visit to Taraba state today, and planned visits to Benue, Zamfara, Yobe and Rivers states.
“I am sure the people of Taraba state won’t be hoodwinked by the President’s cosmetic sympathy, show of concern and crocodile tears, which he never bothered to shed when hundreds of indigenes of the State were being killed by suspected herdsmen.
“Nigerians can no longer be deceived by a president who never cared for them when they needed him most. Therefore, no amount of hurriedly organised campaign visits will sway the people.”
