Two strong critics of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and former Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, have mocked the president over his decision to visit states affected by Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes across the country.
The presidency announced on Sunday that Buhari would be visiting Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Yobe, and Rivers.
The president visited Taraba today, with visits to the other states to follow.
However, Fayose and Omokri described the visits as belated.
Fayose in a statement on Monday in the state capital, Ado Ekiti, described the president’s visit to the affected states as “cosmetic sympathy”.
He said the president was going to the states because of the 2019 general election and not to sympathise with affected families.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor 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 neighboring 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 bordered to shed when hundreds of indigenes of the State were being killed by suspected herdsmen.”
In a tweet via his verified Twitter handle, Omokri said, “I commend President Buhari for following the example of Governors Wike and Fayose in visiting Taraba, Benue and other states gripped by killer Fulani herdsmen killings. If President Buhari cant show good leadership, at least he has shown that he can be a good follower! Well done!”