Insecurity: Furious Atiku Says Tinubu to Face Judgment!

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent comment suggesting that worsening insecurity in the country would not push him out of office.

In a statement released through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Tinubu’s position shows a worrying disconnect from the reality Nigerians are facing daily.

He described the president’s remarks as painful and said it was wrong to treat the suffering of victims and their families as political talk.

According to him, true leadership is shown through responsibility, empathy, and firm action during difficult times, not through defiance.

He said, “It is horrifying that the deaths of innocent citizens killed due to failures in security are reduced to mere political rhetoric.”

Atiku also stated that while Tinubu has the constitutional right to seek re-election, his administration has failed in its most basic duty, which is the protection of lives and property.

He warned that the level of violence in the country has become unbearable, claiming that over 10,000 Nigerians have been killed since May 2023, with some reports placing the figure above 18,000 within two years.

He added, “It is not political opponents who will judge this administration, it is the blood of innocent Nigerians being shed daily across the country. That blood speaks louder than any declaration of political resolve.

“These are not just numbers they are families shattered, communities destroyed, and a nation bleeding.”

Atiku also condemned what he described as silence from the government on recent violent incidents. He pointed to an attack in Ilejemeje, Ekiti State, where armed men reportedly stormed a church, killed a pastor, and abducted worshippers.

He said it was disturbing that such incidents do not appear to receive enough response or empathy from the federal government.

“The rising cost of living, questionable fiscal decisions, and worsening insecurity are why Nigerians are losing faith. Trust must be earned. It cannot be demanded,” he said.

He further warned against any attempt to silence criticism of the government, insisting that Nigerians are directly experiencing the consequences of poor governance.

Atiku stressed that the main duty of any government is to protect its citizens and called on the administration to go beyond statements and urgently fix the country’s security system.

He added, “Ultimately, the people will decide based on what they see and experience,” he said. “When lives are lost and communities destroyed, governance itself is on trial and no rhetoric can overturn that verdict.

“At a time like this, Nigerians do not need bravado—they need protection. They do not need assurances of political endurance they need evidence of leadership.”