Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, questioning its ability to protect Nigerians. This statement likely stems from concerns about the country’s security situation and the government’s response to various challenges.
In a statement released on his social media handle, former VP Atiku Abubakar berated President Tinubu for lacking capacity to secure Nigerians a signal of gross incompetence.
“The Tinubu administration has proven, time and again, to be utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis. This is not just my position — it is a growing consensus among political opposition leaders, respected security experts, and even members within the ruling party who, though too timid to speak publicly, confess this uncomfortable truth behind closed doors.
The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to be spilled with appalling regularity—most recently in the Logo and Gbagir communities of Ukum LGA in Benue State. Yet, the Tinubu presidency remains disturbingly indifferent, displaying neither urgency nor the basic decency of public empathy.
Leadership demands presence. In 2016, President Barack Obama cut short an important diplomatic visit to return home after five police officers were killed in a lone gunman attack. In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa abandoned a state visit to Egypt to return to South Africa amid an electricity crisis. Even U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, heavily criticized for fleeing to Mexico during a deadly winter storm in Texas, eventually returned and acknowledged his mistake.
In our own history, President Goodluck Jonathan returned from Equatorial Guinea in 2014 following a deadly bomb blast in Abuja. That is the expected minimum in moments of national trauma.
Yet President Bola Tinubu, incapable of solving Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, chooses instead to gallivant across Europe — governing Nigeria in absentia as if from a holiday perch. If he cannot act, the least he can do is show up. If he cannot lead with empathy, he should at least attempt the performance of it. Nigeria is bleeding. Nigerians are dying. The president is nowhere to be found.
My heartfelt condolences go to the people and Government of Benue State. We stand with you in grief and in solidarity.
An inept administration may not suddenly discover competence. But we will not stop calling it out. If Tinubu cannot deliver safety and dignity to Nigerians, the very least he can do is pretend to care —regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. –AA” Atiku Abubakar said
Since President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, Nigeria has witnessed a significant surge in violent crimes, including killings and abductions. Here are some key statistics .
Over 13,346 people have been killed and 9,207 abducted across the country, spanning 667 local government areas.
Breakdown by Year:2023: 5,802 deaths and 2,754 abductions were recorded between May and December.
2024: The situation worsened with 7,544 killings and 6,453 abductions between January and September.
- Regional Hotspots:
- Northwest: 1,475 deaths and 4,343 abductions, with Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara states being major hotspots.
- Middlebelt: 1,444 lives lost and 1,321 abductions due to banditry and farmer-herder conflicts.
- Northeast: 819 deaths and 688 abductions attributed to Boko Haram insurgency and banditry.
- Notable Incidents:
- Over 150 people slaughtered on Christmas Eve in Plateau State.
- 287 schoolchildren kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna, with a N1 billion ransom demand.
- 400 people captured by Boko Haram in IDP camps in Gamborou-Ngala, Borno State.
- the nation has witnessed series of security issues and killings in Plateau, Benue, Edo, Bornu and Ondo states.
These statistics paint a grim picture of Nigeria’s security situation under President Tinubu’s administration, with experts urging more decisive action to address the crisis.