As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares to visit Benue State on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the anticipation across Nigeria is loud and clear. This isn’t just another presidential tour — it’s a moment the nation has been demanding.
Benue State, often called Nigeria’s food basket, has been reeling from a series of violent attacks, the most recent being the gruesome massacre in Yelewata, which claimed over 150 lives. As the state mourns and communities reel from the trauma, many Nigerians believe that the president’s visit is not only timely but necessary.
Here are 7 compelling reasons why Nigerians want President Tinubu to visit Benue:
1. To Show National Solidarity With Grieving Families
The scale of the killings in Benue has shocked the conscience of the nation. A presidential visit offers a rare moment of healing, as victims’ families and survivors see that their pain is acknowledged at the highest level. Nigerians want to see their leader standing shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved.
2. To Prove That Security Is a National Priority
From Plateau to Zamfara and now Benue, insecurity has become a defining crisis. Tinubu’s presence in Benue is expected to reinforce the message that the Nigerian government is serious about ending the bloodshed and restoring peace. Nigerians are tired of “statements”; they want action — and leadership.
3. To Rebuild Trust in Governance
The growing public sentiment is that leaders have become distant, detached, and unbothered. By visiting Benue, Tinubu has a chance to challenge that perception. He can reaffirm his role as a president who listens, shows up, and takes responsibility — not just for photo ops, but for progress.
4. To Engage with Stakeholders on Long-Term Solutions
President Tinubu is expected to hold a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, youth groups, religious leaders, and local officials. Nigerians want this dialogue to go beyond politics — they want policy. The visit could ignite a broader conversation on land use, security, and how to end the farmer-herder crisis for good.
5. To Send a Message to Perpetrators of Violence
By stepping foot in Benue, Tinubu would be sending a direct message to those behind the violence: the era of impunity is over. Nigerians want to see the president boldly declare that every life matters and that the state will no longer be held hostage by armed groups.
6. To Emphasize the Strategic Importance of Benue
Benue is more than a flashpoint — it’s a vital contributor to Nigeria’s food supply. The unchecked violence threatens farming, trade, and national food security. A presidential visit shines a spotlight on this often-ignored fact and may catalyze stronger federal intervention.
7. To Move From Condolences to Concrete Actions
Nigerians have heard enough “thoughts and prayers.” What they want now is visible, immediate, and measurable action. They want displaced people resettled, security beefed up, and attackers held accountable. A visit gives President Tinubu the chance to move from sympathy to solutions.
As President Tinubu visits Benue tomorrow, the nation will be watching. His actions, words, and the follow-up will determine whether this visit becomes a footnote or a turning point in the country’s battle against insecurity.
Benue doesn’t just need a handshake — it needs hope, healing, and hard decisions. And that’s what Nigerians are counting on.
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