Former campaign spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu in the South-East, Josef Onoh, has condemned the Benue State Government over plans to stage what he described as a “celebratory and colourful” reception for the President, even as the state reels from the aftermath of a brutal mass killing.
Onoh issued a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday, denouncing the mobilisation directive as grossly insensitive and inappropriate, coming on the heels of recent terror attacks in Yelwata and Daudu communities in Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 people were reportedly killed.
“A Celebration in the Midst of Tears” – Onoh Decries Tone-Deaf Directive
The ex-spokesman lashed out at the Benue State Government for instructing residents to stage a vibrant welcome for President Tinubu during his condolence visit. According to Onoh, such a directive trivializes the immense grief being endured by families of the slain victims and undermines the solemnity of the President’s visit.
“It is an affront to human dignity and an insult to the souls of those massacred,” Onoh said. “This is a time for solemn reflection and compassion not for fanfare and political optics.”
He referenced an official letter dated June 17, 2025, signed by Francis U. Ngutswen, the Senior Special Assistant on Special Groups Mobilization to Governor Hyacinth Alia, directing various groups to line the streets in a “colourful shoulder-to-shoulder spread” from the Makurdi airport through Wurukum Roundabout to the Government House.
The letter also introduced an accreditation system based on group numbers and colour codes, a detail that has since triggered outrage across social and civil society circles.
Calls for Respect, Justice, and Reflection
Onoh expressed dismay that such a mobilisation directive was issued just three days after the Yelwata massacre, at a time when many families remain displaced, traumatized, and in mourning. He argued that prioritizing pageantry over policy and justice sends the wrong message.
“This is not the time for optics or performative politics. It is a time to mourn, to console, to act and most importantly, to ensure justice is served,” he stressed.
He also called attention to statements by Amnesty International, which recently rebuked the Nigerian government for its ineffective and slow response to the spiraling violence in Benue and other Middle Belt states.
Protests and Public Outcry Ignored
Referencing recent grassroots protests in Benue, Onoh recalled how grieving residents, carrying green leaves, took to the streets chanting heart-wrenching laments over their abandonment by the state.
“‘We don taya, we dey helpless, we dey broken’ those were their words,” he recounted. “Rather than respond with empathy, the state government is choreographing a parade. That is utterly disrespectful.”
He argued that such distressing expressions of loss should have compelled the government to focus on dialogue, justice, and humanitarian relief, not flamboyant displays of welcome.
Withdraw the Directive, Show True Leadership – Onoh Urges Alia
As someone with a political lineage rooted in the fight for justice and democratic values, Onoh called on Governor Alia to immediately withdraw the mobilisation directive and instead channel energy and resources toward resettling displaced families, compensating victims, and strengthening local security architecture.
“President Tinubu’s visit should be marked by dignity, solemnity, and a genuine commitment to justice not by staged performances or public relations theatrics,” he declared.
He emphasized that the people of Benue are not merely seeking attention they are demanding action, protection, and a government that listens and responds with empathy.
Onoh concluded by urging the government to reflect on the urgency of the moment and take bold, meaningful steps that would restore faith and security in the affected communities, not just temporary displays of loyalty
