Atiku criticizes Tinubu on insecurity, predicting public assessment of the administration

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent comments on insecurity and re-election, warning that Nigerians, not political rhetoric, will ultimately determine the administration’s fate.

Mr Tinubu had earlier stated that rising insecurity across parts of the country would not force him out of office, insisting he remains determined to seek a second term despite mounting challenges.

However, reacting in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Mr Abubakar described the president’s remarks as “troubling,” arguing that governance should be measured by responsibility and tangible action rather than defiance.

He accused the administration of failing in its primary duty of protecting lives and property, pointing to persistent violence across the country.

“It is not political opponents who will judge this administration; it is the blood of innocent Nigerians being shed daily,” Mr Abubakar said, adding that the scale of killings under the current government reflects a deepening security crisis.

The former vice-president cited estimates suggesting that more than 10,000 people have been killed since Mr Tinubu assumed office, with some figures placing the toll even higher.

He also criticised what he described as the government’s inadequate response to recent attacks, including an incident in Ekiti State where gunmen reportedly killed a pastor and abducted worshippers.

According to him, framing public concern over insecurity as political opposition diminishes the gravity of the situation and the suffering of affected communities.

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Mr Abubakar further linked declining public confidence to worsening insecurity, rising cost of living, and what he termed “reckless fiscal policies,” insisting that trust in leadership must be earned through performance.

“No amount of deflection can rewrite the lived reality of Nigerians,” he said, adding that voters would base their decisions on real conditions in the country.

He urged the federal government to review its security strategy, stressing that the protection of lives should remain the central measure of governance.