Josef Onoh, former campaign spokesman for President Bola Tinubu in the SouthEast, has condemned the Benue State government’s directive to mobilize residents for a “rousing and colourful welcome” for President Tinubu in his visit to the state today.
Onoh said that it is regretful the directive issued by the office of Governor Alia at a time when Nigeria and the international community are reeling from outrage over the brutal massacre of over 200 people in Yelwata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area in the state, an attack widely attributed to armed terrorists.
He described the state government’s call for a festive reception as a gross trivialization of a solemn occasion, an affront to the memory of the victims, and an insult to humanity.
He noted that despite the somber context of the President’s visit, a letter dated June 17, 2025, signed by Francis U. Ngutswen, Senior Special Assistant on Special Groups Mobilization to Governor Hyacinth Alia, directed residents to “mobilize massively to give a rousing welcome to our President, and outlined plans for a “colorful shoulder-to-shoulder spread/procession” from the airport through Wurukum Roundabout to the Government House in Makurdi, where Tinubu was expected to address the public.
The directive emphasized that accreditation will be done directly by the number and colours, suggesting an organized, festive display.
The call for a celebratory welcome has sparked widespread outrage, with many viewing it as a tone-deaf response to the tragedy.
The directive came just three days after the Yelwata massacre, at a time when residents were mourning the loss of loved ones, protesting the killings, and grappling with the displacement of thousands.
Protesters in Benue state, carrying green leaves and chanting in despair, had already expressed frustration with the government’s failure to protect them, with some stating, “We don taya, we dey helpless, we don become weak, we dey broken, we dey powerless because government no dey help us.”
Onoh accused Governor Alia’s administration of turning a solemn occasion into a “fanfare” that disrespects the memory of the victims and undermines the gravity of the situation.
In a strongly worded statement, Onoh argued that the directive to organize a colorful welcome for President Tinubu trivializes the pain of Benue’s residents and sends a message of insensitivity to a grieving nation and the international community.
“At a time when the entire country and the world are enraged by the horrific killings in Benue, the state government’s decision to mobilize residents for a festive reception is not only inappropriate but an insult to the souls of the victims and to humanity itself,” Onoh declared.
He emphasized that the President’s visit should be a moment of reflection, mourning, and actionable commitment to addressing the root causes of the violence, not a political spectacle.
He further criticized the state government for prioritizing optics over substantive action. He pointed to the ongoing failure of both state and federal authorities to curb the violence in Benue, noting that the attacks are part of a broader pattern of insecurity that has claimed thousands of lives in recent years.
“The blood of the innocent cries out for justice, yet the government is more concerned with staging a parade than ensuring the perpetrators are brought to book,” he stated.
Onoh echoed sentiments expressed by Amnesty International, which criticized the Nigerian government’s security measures as inadequate and ineffective.
Drawing on his experience as a political figure and his family’s legacy of fighting injustice, Onoh called on Governor Alia to retract the directive and focus on facilitating meaningful dialogue during the President’s visit.
He urged the state government to prioritize the needs of the victims’ families, including providing humanitarian aid to the displaced and ensuring the deployment of effective security measures.
