Following claims that schoolchildren were forced to line the streets in the pouring rain to greet President Bola Tinubu, his visit to Benue State on Tuesday has sparked a wave of public outrage and condemnation.
The President is in the state to offer condolences to the victims of the recent assaults in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, where accused herdsmen killed over 300 people.
However, people carrying placards featuring pictures of Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia along major routes with inscriptions implying a second-term campaign changed what many had anticipated to be a somber condolence visit into a political procession.
Despite a statewide public holiday declared by the Benue State Government, eyewitnesses report that schoolchildren from government-owned institutions were mobilized for the welcome rally, many of them soaked as they stood in the rain for hours.
Videos from the scene quickly went viral, sparking outrage across social media platforms.
“This is nonsense,” wrote Ogwuche Anderson Paul. “If my child were there, I would go pick them up.”
“Why should parents even let their children go to school today when they declared a public holiday?” asked Felix Shaibu.
“What a country,” lamented Anthony Q Da Singer.
“No be child abuse be this?” wrote Boaz Jachin in disbelief.
The criticisms intensified after a previously circulated message from Francis U. Ngutswen, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Groups Mobilization, surfaced online.
The message called on support groups to come out en masse to welcome the President.
“At the instance of our dear Governor, His Excellency Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Leader of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State, kindly mobilize massively to give a rousing welcome to our President… A colourful shoulder-to-shoulder procession from the Airport to Wurukum Roundabout and down to Government House, Makurdi, is expected,” the statement read.
