Outrage has trailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trip to the United Kingdom, with critics questioning the timing as insecurity escalates across Borno and other parts of the country.
Recall that Tinubu had travelled to the United Kingdom to meet with British monarch, King Charles III. The trip said to be a landmark state visit is the first by a Nigerian leader in almost four decades.
President Tinubu was accompanied by First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and have since arrived in London.Apart from the First Lady, a long list of government officials that made the trip with the president has been trending online.
The president was received at Windsor Castle with pageantry and royal ceremony.
But some critics have argued that apart from the wrong timing of the trip following insecurity across the country, traveling with a large number of officials including the national security adviser was insensitive.
Some of the critics that spoke to DAILY POST include top opposition leaders, lawmakers and security experts.Security officials should not be abroad during crisis – Abdullahi
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, has criticised the presence of key Nigerian officials abroad amid rising insecurity in the country.
Recall that the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said the trip aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the UK in areas such as immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.The President travelled alongside the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and several top government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, among others.
But the visit came just a day after a coordinated bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, which targeted the Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover area.
The attacks reportedly left 23 people dead and 108 others injured, raising fresh concerns over the security situation in the region.Reacting to the development in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Abdullahi said the President’s trip was ill-timed, even if it had been scheduled earlier.
According to him, it is inappropriate for those responsible for the country’s safety to be outside the country during a crisis.
“Of course, it is inappropriate, although we suspect the trip has been planned before the incident in Maiduguri, what we expect is for the President to return home immediately.”
He expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of urgency, especially given the scale of the security challenges facing the country.Presidential presence boosts morale, but institutions matter more – Bokaji
A retired Army Captain and security analyst, Adamu Bokaji, has said that while the physical presence of the president can help boost morale and signal commitment, lasting success in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency depends more on strong institutions and consistent strategies.
Speaking on the security situation in Borno State, Bokaji described it as serious and fragile.
He noted that despite recorded gains by security forces, insurgents still have the capacity to launch attacks, particularly in remote and vulnerable areas.He further assured that the victims would receive adequate support, noting that NEMA , the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) and the Borno State Government have been mobilised to provide necessary assistance.
Prior to the visit on Tuesday, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, were in Anambra for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s sweating in for a second term.
Calm returns to Borno – Borno Deputy Governor
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umaru Kadafur, said on Wednesday that the situation in the state is currently calm.
He urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid crowded areas, and report any suspicious movements to security agencies.
DAILY POST
