Tinubu’s Remarks Troubling, Disconnected from Nigerians’ Pain — Atiku
…Says ‘blood of innocent Nigerians’ is a verdict no government can escape.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again criticised President Bola Tinubu over the state of security in Nigeria, accusing the administration of failing in its “most solemn duty” to protect the lives and property of citizens.
Atiku, who expressed outrage over recent comments by President Tinubu suggesting that insecurity would not force him out of office, described the President’s posture as troubling and disconnected from the painful reality confronting millions of Nigerians.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that leadership is sustained not by defiance but by responsibility, compassion, and measurable action during a national crisis.
The former vice president acknowledged that President Tinubu has a constitutional right to seek re-election, adding that no one begrudges him that choice. However, he maintained that it has become evident the administration has failed woefully in its primary duty.
“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,” Atiku said.
He lamented that the scale of bloodshed under the present administration has reached intolerable levels, noting that more than 10,000 Nigerians have been killed in violent attacks since May 2023. He added that some estimates place the figure at over 18,000 lives lost within two years due to persistent insecurity across the country.
Atiku stressed that these are not mere statistics but represent shattered families, destroyed communities, and a nation steadily bleeding.
The former vice president described as “deeply offensive” the President’s attempt to dismiss the anguish of grieving families as “playing to the hands of enemies and opponents,” stating that such a characterization trivialises the pain of thousands of bereaved Nigerians.
“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.
Atiku further condemned what he called the administration’s indifference to ongoing tragedies, citing a recent attack in Ilejemeje, Ekiti State, where gunmen stormed a church gathering, killed a pastor, and abducted worshippers.
“It is disturbing that such a heinous incident has yet to attract the empathy or acknowledgment it deserves from the highest levels of government, while the loss of lives is instead framed as a political game,” he said.
The former vice president emphasised that no one is forcing the President out of office, but that the steady decline in public confidence is a direct consequence of the administration’s performance. He cited the worsening cost of living, reckless fiscal policies, and the alarming scale of insecurity as the real reasons Nigerians are losing faith.
“Leadership must earn trust—it cannot demand it,” Atiku said.
He warned that attempts to blackmail or silence the opposition would not rescue a government whose record has failed to inspire confidence.
“No amount of deflection or intimidation can rewrite the lived reality of Nigerians. Ultimately, the people will decide, and they will do so based on the evidence before them.
“When lives are lost and communities are destroyed, governance itself is put on trial. No amount of rhetoric can silence the verdict that comes from the suffering of the people,” he added.
Atiku reiterated that the primary responsibility of government remains the protection of lives and property, urging the administration to abandon rhetoric and urgently recalibrate its security strategy.
“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.
He concluded by affirming that the sanctity of human life must remain the ultimate measure of governance, warning that no administration can endure indefinitely in the face of unchecked loss of innocent lives.
