"What A Clown Act!": Public Fury Explodes as President Tinubu’s Silence on Benue Massacre Sparks Global Condemnation

 

Nigerians Erupt Over Presidential Silence Amid Benue Massacre, Demanding Empathy and Leadership

Outrage continues to boil across Nigeria and beyond, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces a ferocious backlash over his perceived delayed and detached response to the recent mass killings in Benue State. Over 200 lives were reportedly lost in the violence that shook the heart of the nation, and many are accusing the president of aloofness, insensitivity, and a lack of leadership at a critical time.

Social media platforms have become the battleground where citizens vent their anger, frustration, and disappointment. Prominent voices and everyday Nigerians alike are using Twitter—now X—as a vehicle for raw emotional outpouring, condemning the president’s perceived disinterest in the suffering of ordinary people. The phrase “Commander-in-Chief” has turned sarcastic, a bitter echo of its true meaning.

Several high-profile commentators were unsparing in their criticism. Human rights activist Rinu Oduala labeled the president’s communication team as “terrible,” declaring the administration a “failure home and abroad.” Similarly, @UnkleAyo did not mince words, branding Tinubu “an insensitive, unempathetic, clueless, incompetent thief,” lamenting his absence from the crisis zone while he allegedly attended what was mockingly dubbed a “clownfest” in France.

The criticism is not just about silence—it is also about timing and optics. Many Nigerians expressed disgust that it took public statements from international figures like the Pope, and opposition voices such as Peter Obi, before any acknowledgment came from the presidency. To them, the president’s eventual comment felt forced, insincere, and untimely.

Anger turned visceral in tweets such as that from @AfamDeluxo, who likened the president to a “coward in agbada,” a traditional Nigerian attire, and accused him of being “allergic to truth unless it comes from abroad.” The resentment reflects a broader sense of disillusionment with leadership that citizens feel is distant, reactive, and out of touch.

What compounds the fury is the setting in which Tinubu was believed to be during the crisis—France. For many, the optics of being overseas while the nation mourns is the very embodiment of misgovernance. Jaypee, another prominent voice on X, reminded the president and the public that as the nation’s Commander-in-Chief, the security of the country rests squarely on his shoulders. His words cut deep: “You have failed woefully on the oath you took to protect life and property of the Nigerian people.”

A rising number of Nigerians are drawing disturbing comparisons to fictional or satirical representations of government failure. Posts jokingly reference foreign leaders giving Tinubu instructions, or AI generating his responses, underscoring the sense that the president is not the one truly in charge or connected to the pulse of the people.

This moment reflects a broader discontent simmering under the surface of Nigerian political life. While insecurity and mass violence are unfortunately not new, the public reaction to this particular incident signals a threshold being crossed. Nigerians are no longer content with delayed tweets, shallow platitudes, or foreign-dictated optics. They demand presence, compassion, and swift, meaningful action.

Some have even gone as far as demanding the president’s resignation, calling him a “remote president” and urging him to step down if the burden of governance is too heavy. Others, like @vian337, echoed the words of Peter Obi: “You cannot sneak in through the window and start cleaning up the house,” a metaphor for what critics say is Tinubu’s lack of legitimacy and leadership ethos.

What began as scattered voices of disapproval has swelled into a national roar. The presidency faces a critical test—not just in terms of managing the security crisis, but in addressing a severe trust deficit that now threatens the very foundation of its moral authority. How Tinubu navigates this maelstrom may well define his legacy. As it stands, millions are watching, waiting, and demanding far more than empty words.