A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu for proceeding with his state visit to the United Kingdom despite recent terrorist attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Okonkwo accused the president of showing insensitivity to victims and fallen soldiers by embarking on the trip.
According to him, cancelling the visit would have sent a powerful message of respect and solidarity with those affected by the attacks.
“It’s about telling the world that you prefer to respect the blood of your martyrs to riding on their blood and dancing on their graves in the United Kingdom,” Okonkwo said.
He further described the red carpet reception awaiting the president in London as symbolic of the sacrifice of victims, insisting that Tinubu should have called off the trip “without equivocation.”
The ADC chieftain also questioned the composition and actions of Nigeria’s leadership during the period of mourning. He expressed concern that while the president travelled with the Minister of Defence, Vice President Kashim Shettima was in Anambra State attending the second-term swearing-in of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
“Why go with your minister of defence? Why would the vice president be celebrating in Anambra State? I can’t believe it, I feel embarrassed,” he said.
Okonkwo stressed that honouring fallen military personnel is crucial for maintaining morale among troops, noting that soldiers draw strength from how their sacrifices are recognised by national leaders.
He also took aim at the administration’s handling of security, accusing it of politicising critical issues and failing to implement effective solutions. According to him, the country continues to suffer from inadequate security personnel, ungoverned spaces, and worsening economic hardship, which he said fuels criminal activity.
“I told you that Tinubu is incapable of solving the security problems and that is why it is metastasising all over the nation,” he added.
The criticism comes in the wake of coordinated explosions in Maiduguri on Monday, believed to have been carried out by suspected suicide bombers. The attacks struck a busy market and surrounding areas, killing about 23 people and injuring over 100 others.
President Tinubu departed for the United Kingdom on Tuesday for a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, boosting trade and investment, and enhancing cooperation in key sectors.
The incident has reignited debate over the government’s response to insecurity and the appropriate conduct of national leaders during periods of crisis.
