Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku’s Criticism of Tinubu Funeral Visit as Politically Motivated

Former Edo State Governor and current Senator for Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for attacking President Bola Tinubu over his attendance at a funeral in Plateau State, calling the remarks symptomatic of partisan obsession.

Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Oshiomhole said he felt “sympathy” for Atiku, who he claimed is consumed by politics and interprets every action through partisan lenses.

Atiku had taken issue with Tinubu’s visit to the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of APC’s National Chairman Prof. Abdullahi Yilwatda. In a post on X, Atiku described the President’s attendance as “a sad reflection of priorities and a mockery of leadership” arguing that the President should have instead visited states ravaged by insecurity in the North Central region to console their citizens.

He accused Tinubu of failing to express empathy and compassion while thousands suffer from violence and loss, calling the funeral visit a display of disregard for human dignity.

Responding, Oshiomhole defended the President, stating that attendance at funerals is a tradition and should not be politicised. He noted that Tinubu has visited other states such as Benue for celebrations and birthdays, and argued that expecting the President to personally visit every community afflicted by violence is unrealistic.

“If it is customary to offer condolences in state functions, this was such a case” Oshiomhole said. He questioned whether the President necessarily has to go to the village of birth or burial whenever such events occur.

President Tinubu had attended the funeral service at the Church of Christ in Nations Headquarters in Jos, where he called on Nigerians to embrace peace, tolerance and live in harmony above religious and ethnic divisions.