BREAKING: Real reason Tinubu didn’t leave airport during visit to Jos – Presidency

The Presidency has clarified why President Bola Tinubu did not leave the airport during his recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, attributing the decision to tight scheduling and logistical limitations.

Recall that the President on Thursday met with families of victims killed during an attack by gunmen in Angwa Rukuba, located in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Addressing the bereaved families, who were brought to meet him at the airport, the President said, “You have no light at the airport, and I have to fly back within the next 10 minutes. To the victims, there’s nothing I can give you, whether it’s money in millions, but console you and promise you that this experience will not repeat itself.”

The venue was attended by political supporters, traditional rulers, security operatives and other stakeholders.

However, Tinubu’s decision to remain at the airport sparked widespread criticism, with some accusing him of showing insensitivity to grieving families.

In response, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, issued a statement on Friday explaining the circumstances surrounding the visit.

He said Tinubu’s original schedule for Thursday included receiving the Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, at the Presidential Villa before proceeding to Iperu in Ogun State.

Following a security briefing by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the President cancelled the Ogun trip and arranged an emergency visit to Jos overnight.

Despite the adjustment, the bilateral meeting with the Chadian leader, which focused on enhancing security cooperation, could not be postponed.

According to the Presidency, the engagement lasted longer than anticipated, delaying Tinubu’s departure for Jos.

“Upon arrival in Jos, the visit encountered some logistical challenges. While the road distance from the airport to Jos township is approximately 40 minutes, the runway does not support night flights due to the absence of navigational aids. The constraints made it unfeasible to drive into town, meet victims for on-the-spot assessment and return to the airport before dusk.”

“Consequently, state and federal officials decided to bring representatives of the affected community to a hall adjoining the airport so the President could meet with them promptly while adhering to flight restrictions. Among the people in the hall were the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police, who had visited Rukuba, the epicentre of the conflict. President Tinubu deployed the high-level team to Rukuba, including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, to undertake critical groundwork on security and community engagement, with a view to stabilising the area before his arrival.

“Beyond expressing his condolences to the victims, President Tinubu’s objective was to engage with critical stakeholders in Plateau State on ending the recurring, decades-old conflict that has resulted in needless loss of lives and property.”

Onanuga added that the visit went beyond symbolism, describing it as “a strategic, high-level engagement aimed at bringing all stakeholders together to address the root causes of conflict and insecurity in the state.”

“He interacted with the victims, consoled them, and listened to them. He also listened to local leaders and assured them that the federal government would deliver justice and end the cycle of violence. He promised the deployment of 5000 AI-enabled cameras to monitor the city and enhance the identification and arrest of troublemakers.

“Furthermore, the President invited the community leaders to Abuja for further talks on finding a lasting solution to the recurring violence in the state.

“The meeting, televised live, was solemn and reassuring, boosting residents’ confidence. President Tinubu achieved the purpose of his visit, despite the naysayers’ attempts to ridicule it. He dropped an unmistakable message: sustainable peace must be built with the people, not imposed on them.”