Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are currently in Daura, Katsina State, to commiserate with the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Their visit comes as part of a series of condolence visits to the late leader’s family following his passing.
Buhari was laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura in line with Islamic burial rites, bringing to a close a period of national mourning for a statesman who had served the country both as a military Head of State and as a democratically elected President.
His death marked the end of an era in Nigeria’s political history, attracting sympathies and tributes from across the political spectrum.
Peter Obi was specifically sighted at the Daura residence of the late President on Wednesday, a day after Buhari was laid to rest.
However, Obi’s visit did not come without controversy. He has faced a wave of public criticism for failing to attend Buhari’s burial ceremony itself. Among his most vocal critics is Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and a well-known socio-political analyst.
Omokri castigated Obi for what he termed a clear act of disrespect and insensitivity to a critical national event. He argued that the former Anambra governor’s absence from the burial was not only noticeable but also indicative of a deeper disregard for occasions of national importance.
Omokri further drew a stinging comparison between Obi’s attendance at international events and his seeming indifference to domestic affairs.
He recalled that following the death of Pope Francis, Peter Obi, despite not receiving an official invitation, travelled over 5,600 kilometres to Rome in an effort to participate in the Pope’s funeral.
According to Omokri, this eagerness to attend foreign events contrasts sharply with Obi’s neglect of significant national ceremonies such as Buhari’s burial.
This critique has sparked broader debates on social media about national loyalty, political symbolism, and the obligations of political leaders to show solidarity during moments of national significance.