Atiku Abubakar’s camp has criticized Babachir Lawal, defending the former Vice President’s record on terrorism, banditry and security reforms.
The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing response to recent remarks by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, accusing him of attempting to rewrite history and distort facts regarding Atiku’s long-standing position on terrorism, banditry and other security challenges confronting Nigeria.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku’s team expressed concern over what it described as Lawal’s conduct and comments, alleging that the former SGF has resorted to personal attacks after failing in efforts to influence the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.
The statement claimed that Lawal played a controversial role during the party’s primary process and became frustrated when electoral officials allegedly prevented attempts to manipulate the exercise.
According to the media office, rather than addressing allegations surrounding his involvement, Lawal has chosen to target Atiku Abubakar with what it called unfounded criticisms.
Defending the former Vice President’s record, the media office stressed that Atiku has consistently spoken out against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes affecting communities in Benue, Plateau and several other states across the federation.
The statement noted that despite being a Fulani man from Adamawa State in Nigeria’s North-East region, Atiku has repeatedly and publicly condemned terrorist and bandit attacks wherever they occur, while also expressing solidarity with victims and affected communities.
According to the statement, Atiku has frequently criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that Nigeria’s security architecture requires urgent reforms.
It maintained that he has repeatedly warned against relying on public assurances and rhetoric instead of implementing proactive measures capable of preventing attacks before they occur.
The former Vice President was also credited with advocating a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy.
Over the years, he has called on the National Assembly to enact legislation that would empower state governments to properly equip and arm their security outfits with modern weapons to complement federal security agencies struggling under increasing operational pressure.
Beyond security operations, Atiku has consistently promoted community participation in intelligence gathering.
The statement said he has encouraged citizens to cooperate with security agencies by sharing useful information while discouraging any form of collaboration with criminal elements operating within local communities.
His media office further highlighted his proposal for the establishment of a National Victims and Survivors Support Framework designed to provide psychological care, educational opportunities and economic recovery programmes for communities devastated by terrorist and bandit attacks.
The statement also referenced one of Atiku’s recent policy recommendations, which called for the creation of special courts dedicated to handling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping cases.
Such courts, he argued, would accelerate the prosecution of offenders and ensure that those found guilty face stiff penalties, including capital punishment where applicable under the law.
The media office maintained that Atiku’s public interventions on insecurity span every region of the country and are well documented in numerous speeches, interviews and policy engagements.
The statement reads:
"Babachir Lawal was in a state of stupor while Atiku was condemning, empathising and proffering solutions to terrorist, banditry attacks in Benue, Plateau, others
We read with amusement but concern for the mental state of former SGF Babachir Lawal, his latest attempt at revisionism of his disgraceful public service record and failed efforts to cause the rigging of the ADC presidential primary.
It is becoming obvious that Babachir Lawal is going bunkers possibly from the abuse of booze.
Instead of addressing the issue of his ignominious role in presiding over a scam in which he allegedly extorted money to deliver the presidential ticket, but failed because those charged with the responsibility of conducting the election stopped him in his tracks, Babachir Lawal has resorted to personal attacks against Atiku Abubakar.
Babachir Lawal may have been preoccupied with hitting the sauce but it is public record that the Waziri had always spoken against terrorist and banditry attacks and shown empathy to communities that were attacked.
Despite the fact that Atiku Abubakar is Fulani from Adamawa, in the North East region, the ADC presidential candidate in the 2027 election, has frequently spoken out and forcefully too in condemnation of terrorist and banditry attacks and the escalating wave of kidnappings across Nigeria.
When responding to these incidents, he often criticizes the Federal Government and the leader of the government of the day, and in this dispensation, President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the country's security architecture is collapsing and that officials rely on "empty statements" rather than taking decisive, preventive action.
It is also on record that the Waziri Adamawa advocates for an overhaul of Nigeria's counterterrorism framework. He has frequently called on the National Assembly to pass legislation that would allow state governments to arm their own security outfits with modern weapons to complement overstretched federal forces.
Atiku Abubakar has also highlighted the importance of localized efforts, urging community members to provide intelligence to security agencies and avoiding acting as informants for armed groups.
In addition, he has proposed the creation of a National Victims and Survivors Support Framework to ensure that affected communities receive psychological support, educational opportunities, and economic recovery programmes.
In one of his most recent engagements, the former Vice President proposed for a Special Courts to not only try these criminals but that those found guilty be handed capital punishment.
When Babachir Lawal is eventually sober, he may wish to take out time to review some of the links of news reports in which Atiku Abubakar spoke against terrorist and banditry attacks and proferred solutions. Those engagements covered every state of the country without exception."
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