Nigerians kick as Benue school children line up to welcome Tinubu under rain

Hundreds of school children were made to line up in the rain for a colourful welcome parade for President Bola Tinubu, who arrived in Benue on Wednesday to commiserate with the people for the slaughter of over 200 defenceless citizens by Fulani bandits

The children, mostly of primary school age and dressed in various school uniforms, lined up on the sidewalk of major routes the president’s motorcade was billed to take. They sang the National Anthem while being splashed by water from cars passing the road.

The state government declared a public holiday because of the president’s visit, exempting essential workers like doctors, nurses, firefighters and other categories of workers. Netizens wondered whether the pupils had also become essential workers.

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said the decision to put the children in the rain, even when some of them could have lost loved ones during the barbaric attack, was because the Nigerian political class sees Nigerians as conquered souls.

She posted on her X handle: “The saddest part is that some of these children may be from among the hundreds of families mourning their loved ones and yet are compelled to stand in the rain and give misleaders that have shown ZERO care for them a ‘rousing welcome.” Things like this are why the uncaring political class of Nigeria has nothing to disincentivise their Bad behaviour and the Poor Governance it produces. They believe the Nigerian citizens are conquered souls. Will it always be so? No, because there is that one Factor that our politicians never add to their equation when they become carried away and drunk on Public Power. Yeah. ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾.”

Also reacting to the video of the children in the rain waiting for the president’s arrival, @de_generalnoni said: In the rain? Like really 😳😳😳😳. Who are these people in power?”

@Vicbersong also said: “The teachers who subjected the school children to this rubbish should be called into question! This is pathetic!”

@tmscool said: “A town that lost people to terrorists can still find time to do fanfare on the death of their people and have no reason to cry anymore. This is why govt cannot be serious because the people do not make any serious demands of them.”

@ToheebAlim said: “We are a reflection of our society. The people of Benue deserve the type of leadership they have. How can parents allow their children to be used for this kind of show of shame, owing to the story behind the visit? Instead of the women lining up crying bitterly, una dey sing.”