President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come under intense criticism following his attendance at the wedding fatiha of the children of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, at the weekend.

Tinubu was the main guest at the wedding attended by top government functionaires.

The event held days after a deadly attack in Woro, Kaiama local government area of Kwara State that claimed over 100 lives with scores still missing.

Tinubu had condemned the attack and ordered the Army to crack down on the attackers.

He also sent Vice-President Kashim Shettima to lead the Federal Government delegation on a condolence visit.

But backlash trailed Matawalle’s post on X thanking the President for attending the ceremony held on Friday at the National Mosque, Abuja.

Ten of his children were married in a single event attended by top political figures and foreign dignitaries.

Tinubu played a prominent role at the ceremony, receiving the brides on behalf of the Matawalle family, a gesture regarded as symbolic in Islamic tradition.

Also present were the President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, governors, lawmakers, and senior presidential aides.

However, the timing of the President’s public appearance at the wedding sparked outrage online, with many Nigerians questioning the optics of attending a lavish ceremony while victims of a deadly attack were yet to receive a presidential visit.

One X user, Raul (@JusticeChined18), accused the President of insensitivity, stating that Tinubu “attended a wedding but didn’t go to Kwara State”.

He added that the incident suggested a lack of empathy for the victims.

“The lives of the poor do not matter. You see how wicked this… is”, he said

Another user, @debetRaymond, identified as Raymond Oyewusi, questioned the optics of the celebration.

He criticised both the President and the defence minister, questioning the appropriateness of public celebration in a country where hundreds had been killed in a single attack.

He wrote the “Minister of State for Defence in a country where 200 people were murdered posts? We have a … president.

Similarly, Gondo Andyi faulted Tinubu and Matawalle for the disconnect from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

“Both yourself and Tinubu are …Nigerians are killed on a daily basis. All you and your boss can do is to throw a lavish wedding for your kids without visiting the site of terrorists’ attack in Kwara State”. (Weekend Trust)

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