President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come under fire from Nigerians after expressing sympathy for the victims of a recent plane crash in Washington, D.C. Many citizens have voiced their anger online, accusing the President of showing false empathy toward the United States, while failing to acknowledge similar tragedies within Nigeria.
The criticism stemmed from a statement Tinubu made on Thursday, where he expressed condolences to the U.S. government and the families of the victims involved in the crash. In his message, the President said:
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Washington, D.C. On behalf of Nigeria, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the United States, and all affected by this profound loss. I commend the courageous efforts of first responders and emergency teams for their selfless work in harsh conditions. Nigeria stands in solidarity with the United States Government and its People, united in grief and hopeful for a new day.”
However, many Nigerians have criticized the President for prioritizing sympathy for a foreign tragedy while neglecting to address the loss of lives within Nigeria. They pointed out that the country has witnessed numerous incidents, such as bombings, explosions, and terrorist attacks, but has received little to no acknowledgment from the President.
Social media users did not hold back in their responses:
- @UchePOkoye wrote, “Very irresponsible president, all the lives we have lost in this country you haven’t made any tweet about it. A very irresponsible President.”
- @thewahalaboy said, “17 Nigerian soldiers were killed by terrorists in the northern part of the country a few days ago. No condolence message.”
- @odogwu_ogidi stated, “This is utterly stupid and completely ridiculous. You never showed concerns for the lives lost in Nigeria, but here you are doing an eye service to the US — perhaps to avoid being exposed. You’re such a shame and a disgrace to the black race. Spits!”
- @Morris_Monye wrote, “Sir, there was a tanker explosion in Enugu state. As many as 50 Nigerians lost their lives.”
