“He’s Dancing on Our Dead” Okonkwo Blasts Tinubu’s UK Trip Amid Mourning in Maiduguri

Former presidential aide and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has delivered a scathing attack on Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his ongoing state visit to the United Kingdom.

Speaking on Politics Today, Okonkwo did not mince words.

“That red carpet there is the blood of the martyrs,” he said, accusing the president of “dancing on the graves” of Nigerians killed in the attacks.

For families who lost loved ones in the coordinated explosions that tore through a busy market and surrounding areas, the criticism echoes a deeper pain a feeling that their tragedy has not received the solemn attention it deserves.

Okonkwo argued that cancelling the trip would have sent a powerful message of respect and solidarity.

“It’s about telling the world that you honour your fallen,” he said.

Instead, the president was received with pomp and ceremony at Windsor Castle by King Charles III, complete with a 42 gun salute and a state banquet.

Back home, however, the reality is starkly different.

Hospitals in Maiduguri are still treating the injured, while families grapple with sudden loss. The attacks, which killed about 23 people and injured over 100, have reignited fears over insecurity in Nigeria’s northeast.

Okonkwo also questioned the government’s broader response, pointing to what he described as a disconnect in leadership. While the president travelled abroad with senior officials, including the defence minister, the vice president attended a political event in Awka a move he called embarrassing.

Beyond the criticism, the human cost remains the central story.

Each casualty represents a life cut short traders, parents, children caught in violence that continues to haunt the region. For many Nigerians, the debate is not just about politics, but about empathy, leadership, and timing.

Meanwhile, military chiefs have since relocated to Borno State on the president’s directive, in a bid to stabilise the situation and reassure communities under threat.