….Accuses government of failure to protect lives amid rising killings
By Lami Isah , Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent remarks suggesting that insecurity would not force him out of office, describing the stance as insensitive to the worsening security situation in the country.
Atiku, in a statement issued on his behalf by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said leadership is defined by responsibility and compassion, not defiance in the face of national tragedy.
He argued that the administration’s record on security was being judged not by political opponents but by the scale of human losses across the country.
“It is not political opponents who will judge this administration it is the blood of innocent Nigerians being shed daily across our land.
That blood cries out louder than any declaration of political resolve,” he said.
While acknowledging President Tinubu’s constitutional right to seek re-election, the former Vice President said the government could not ignore what he described as its “failure in its most fundamental duty” of protecting lives and property.
He cited figures claiming that over 10,000 Nigerians had been killed in violent attacks since May 2023, with some estimates placing the toll as high as 18,000 deaths, warning that the numbers reflect destroyed families and devastated communities.
Atiku also faulted what he called attempts to downplay the crisis or frame public criticism as political attacks on the presidency.
“It is horrifying that the memories of innocent citizens slain due to the failure of government to provide adequate security would be so casually reduced to political rhetoric,” he said.
He further condemned the government’s response to a recent attack in Ilejemeje, Ekiti State, where gunmen reportedly invaded a church, killed a pastor, and abducted worshippers, alleging that the incident had not received adequate official attention.
“It is disturbing that such a heinous incident has yet to attract the empathy or acknowledgment it deserves from the highest levels of government,” he added.
On the broader state of the economy and public trust, Atiku blamed rising hardship, insecurity, and fiscal policies for what he described as declining confidence in the administration.
“The worsening cost of living, reckless fiscal policies, and the alarming scale of insecurity under this administration are the real reasons Nigerians are losing faith.
Leadership must earn trust — it cannot demand it,” he said.
He warned against attempts to silence opposition voices, insisting that public judgment would ultimately be determined by the lived experiences of Nigerians.
“No amount of deflection or intimidation can rewrite the lived reality of Nigerians. Ultimately, the people will decide based on the evidence before them,” he said.
Atiku urged the Federal Government to move away from rhetoric and adopt urgent, practical measures to address insecurity, stressing that citizens are demanding protection rather than political assurances.
“At a time like this, Nigerians do not need bravado; they need protection. They do not need declarations of staying power; they need proof of leadership,” he said.
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