By Erewunmi Peace

Former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has criticised opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, accusing them of offering mostly social media reactions whenever Nigeria experiences national tragedies.

Kachikwu made the remarks while reacting to recent security and humanitarian crises across the country. According to him, statements and condolence messages shared online are not enough to address Nigeria’s deep-rooted problems.

“Every time we have had a national tragedy, all you hear from Atiku and Obi are mostly tweets,” Kachikwu said, adding that opposition leaders should go beyond social media commentary and present concrete policy alternatives to the ruling government.

He argued that Nigerians expect more strategic engagement and leadership from prominent political figures, especially during moments of national distress.

However, supporters of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have pushed back against the criticism, noting that both politicians have consistently spoken out on national issues, called for accountability, and made public demands for government action through official statements and media engagements.

Political analysts note that public reactions to tragedies often take the form of statements or social media posts, which have become standard channels for political communication.

They add that assessing leadership response should involve examining broader advocacy efforts, policy positions, and long-term engagement, not only immediate public reactions.

The comments by Kachikwu have sparked debate online, with Nigerians divided over what constitutes effective opposition leadership during national emergencies.