Insecurity: Atiku, Obi slam Tinubu over renewed attacks across Nigeria

Enough of hollow rhetoric,’ former VP tells President

Renewed attacks represent failure of leadership and responsibility-Ex Anambra gov

Emeka Agu with agency reports

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, have criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the security challenges in the country.

In a statement via X on Monday, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decried the fresh attacks in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states.

He challenged the Commander-in-Chief to take a shift toward practical action amid the killings by gunmen.

“Enough of these hollow rhetorics, Mr. President. It is time to fold your sleeves and get to work,” the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said.

He lamented that barely 72 hours after Tinubu vowed that the killing in Plateau State wouldn’t repeat itself, gunmen attacked Benue State, killing several people.

“I wish to remind President Bola Tinubu to keep to his words that ‘this (Angwan Rukuba attack) will not repeat itself. It does appear that those words are hollow because barely 72 hours, another attack in Benue State claimed over a dozen lives. The Commander-in-Chief should brace up to the challenges of governance.

“I am also concerned, like all well-meaning Nigerians, about what is going on in a Nasarawa community where families had fled on foot amid threats of attack.

“And as if those are not enough, there was a fresh attack in Kaduna State at the weekend. The primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property and the promotion of the welfare of citizens,” Atiku stated.

The former vice president also commiserated with the families of the victims of the attacks, assuring them of his prayers.

In the same vein, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over renewed attacks across parts of the country, recalling the President’s recent assurance that the violence in Jos would not recur.

In a statement posted on X on Monday, Obi said the resurgence of killings within days of the President’s promise highlights a failure of leadership and responsibility.

Quoting Tinubu’s earlier remark, Obi said: “‘This Experience Will Not Repeat Itself’ — another presidential promise fails in less than 24 hours.”

He noted that shortly after the President addressed victims in Jos on April 2 and pledged that such incidents would not happen again, another attack reportedly occurred in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area, leading to further casualties.

Obi added that the violence has since spread to other parts of the country, citing incidents in Nasarawa, Zamfara, Borno, Benue, and Kaduna states.

“Less than 24 hours after President Tinubu stood… and promised the grieving Nigerian citizens, ‘I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself,’ another brutal attack occurred,” he said.

Highlighting the scale of the insecurity, Obi said several communities have recorded killings, abductions, and destruction of property in recent days.

“This represents a failure of leadership and responsibility, and sadly, Nigerians are paying for it with their lives,” he stated.

The former Anambra State governor stressed that the government’s primary duty to protect lives and property is not being fulfilled.

“The primary responsibility of any government is to protect lives and property; however, this responsibility is failing today. Nigerians are being slaughtered in their homes, in their communities, and in the very places they should feel safest,” Obi said.

Describing the situation as urgent, he added: “This is a national emergency. Nigeria is bleeding, and the situation is worsening and increasingly helpless.”