Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a critical stance on President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the country’s security challenges, particularly the pervasive kidnappings occurring nationwide. Atiku, who contested against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, urged the president to step aside if he could not effectively address the worsening insecurity.
Expressing concern over Tinubu’s recent private visit to France amid rising insecurity, Atiku emphasised the need for a proactive leader to confront the security crisis gripping the nation.
Atiku questioned the President’s priorities, highlighting instances of recent kidnappings, including the tragic incident where kidnappers killed a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay a N90 million ransom.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, Atiku criticised Tinubu, stating, “Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity. If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief. The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy.”
Atiku’s comments come in the wake of Tinubu’s third private visit to France in eight months, a move that has drawn criticism from various quarters, including political parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party.
The security situation in Nigeria continues to be a cause for concern, with kidnappings occurring despite the government’s efforts to curb the issue. In recent incidents, three riot police inspectors were kidnapped in Delta State, the Oyo State Chairman of the Tipper, Lorry, and Quarry Park Management System was abducted, and two Ekiti State monarchs were killed by suspected kidnappers.
Civil society groups, operating under the banner of the Civil Society Joint Action Group, revealed that 17,469 Nigerians have been abducted from 2019 to the present day, spanning the administrations of both President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.
The alarming statistics further underscore the urgent need for comprehensive and effective measures to address the security challenges facing the nation.
