Former Edo State Governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s comments on President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State, describing them as evidence of “political obsession.”
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Oshiomhole said he “sympathised” with Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, arguing that the former vice president had become “consumed by politics.”
“I have sympathy for Atiku. He has allowed himself to be consumed by politics. Everything he sees, he interprets through the lens of partisanship,” Oshiomhole stated.
Atiku had earlier condemned President Tinubu for attending the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe — mother of APC National Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Yilwatda — in Plateau State, calling it “a sad reflection of priorities” and “a mockery of leadership.”
He argued that the president should have visited communities affected by persistent violence and insecurity in the North Central region instead of attending what he described as “a social event linked to his party chairman.”
“With vast areas of the country still under attack and thousands of lives lost, it is deeply regrettable that President Tinubu has not once visited any affected state to sympathise with grieving citizens,” Atiku wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Reacting, Oshiomhole defended Tinubu’s decision, saying it was in line with tradition and should not be politicised. “It is customary to visit any state and commiserate with the governor as a representative of the people,” he said.
He noted that Tinubu had previously visited Benue State for Christmas and other occasions, stressing that presidential visits do not need to occur in every local government impacted by violence.
“Did he need to go to the exact village where the woman was born or will be buried?” Oshiomhole asked.
President Tinubu attended the funeral service at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) headquarters in Jos, where he urged Nigerians to embrace peace, reject religious and ethnic divisions, and live harmoniously.