Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State in the wake of a deadly massacre, describing the trip as politicised, superficial, and lacking genuine empathy for the victims.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Adebayo expressed deep disappointment over what he called the trivialisation of a grave national tragedy. He lamented that instead of offering meaningful leadership and reassurance to the grieving community, the President and those around him chose to focus on political self-promotion and 2027 electoral ambitions.
“Our entire governmental doctrine and leadership mentality in Nigeria needs a thorough revamp, and our people desperately need mental liberation,” Adebayo wrote. “How could the emphasis be on the 2027 election and so little on the sadistic massacre that just occurred?”
According to the SDP flagbearer, the President’s speech during the town hall meeting in Benue reflected a disturbing detachment from the seriousness of the tragedy.
Adebayo took issue with the fact that the bulk of the address was focused on the “sacrifice” Tinubu made to personally visit the state, rather than addressing the obvious leadership failures and constitutional breaches that allowed such carnage to occur in the first place.
“No observer would believe that the people of this great state have just suffered a dastardly and gruesome massacre merely a few days ago,” Adebayo remarked. “The bulk of the speech was centred on how promptly the President responded, not on why the massacre happened or how to prevent another one.”
He also did not spare traditional rulers in the affected areas, expressing dismay at their conduct during the visit. Rather than mourn with their communities or demand justice and accountability, the royal fathers reportedly used the opportunity to pledge their support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
“That the traditional rulers felt compelled to pledge their ‘massive support’ for @officialABAT in the 2027 election on such a sombre occasion is both pathetic and undignified,” Adebayo said. “I could not believe my eyes and ears.”
The SDP leader described the entire episode—from the government’s handling of the massacre to the political behaviour of the elite—as symptomatic of a deeper national decay. He stressed the need for a radical shift in values and leadership approach across the country.
“The political elite’s deterioration seems irredeemable,” he warned. “A new direction is inevitable. May God help Nigeria. We need to bid farewell to poverty and insecurity.”
Adebayo concluded by urging Nigerians to take national tragedies more seriously and to reject any attempt to exploit human suffering for political gain.