US VISIT: Atiku Abubakar to spotlight Nigeria’s security, economic, governance crises
By KEMI KASUMU
As Nigeria gradually approaches another election cycle, he warned that any attempt to compromise transparency or manipulate electoral outcomes could have serious implications for national unity and democratic legitimacy.
Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said his forthcoming engagements with policy and institutional stakeholders in the United States of America will focus primarily on what he described as the worsening state of insecurity, governance failures, and economic instability in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday May 3, 2026 by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the former vice president warned that Nigeria is confronting what he termed a “full-blown internal crisis” that can no longer be minimized or ignored.
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According to Atiku, escalating violence across several regions of the country has exposed deep weaknesses in the Nigerian state’s ability to fulfill its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property. He cited the continued attacks and instability in the North-West and North-East, ongoing killings in the Middle Belt, and the increasing spread of kidnappings and organized criminal activities nationwide as evidence of a deteriorating national security environment.
The DEFENDER reports that the former vice president argued that the crisis has evolved beyond isolated security incidents into what he described as a pattern of systemic governance failure. He lamented that many communities have been devastated, livelihoods disrupted, and citizens left vulnerable amid growing insecurity.
“A government that cannot guarantee basic security forfeits the moral basis of its mandate,” Atiku said, according to the statement.
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Concerns over economic hardship
Atiku also expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, describing the hardship facing citizens as severe and largely avoidable.
He pointed to rising inflation, the depreciation of the national currency, declining purchasing power, and policy inconsistency as major factors worsening economic distress across the country. According to him, millions of Nigerians are struggling under mounting financial pressure while confidence in economic management continues to decline.
The former vice president stated that citizens are increasingly frustrated by the absence of clear economic direction and sustainable policy measures capable of reversing the downturn.
Warning on Democratic Institutions and Electoral Integrity
Beyond security and the economy, Atiku raised alarm over what he described as declining public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, governance systems, and electoral processes.
As Nigeria gradually approaches another election cycle, he warned that any attempt to compromise transparency or manipulate electoral outcomes could have serious implications for national unity and democratic legitimacy.
He stressed the importance of strengthening accountability and restoring public trust in democratic institutions to preserve political stability.
Defence of International Engagement
Responding to anticipated criticism over his planned international engagements, Atiku rejected suggestions that discussing Nigeria’s internal challenges abroad amounts to undermining the country’s sovereignty or inviting foreign interference.
He maintained that Nigeria’s strategic importance on the global stage means that international partners naturally have an interest in the country’s democratic health, governance standards, and stability.
“Telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic,” he said, adding that responsible leadership requires openness to scrutiny and constructive engagement.
Atiku argued that the international community is already aware of Nigeria’s challenges, noting that the more pressing issue is whether Nigerian leaders are willing to confront those realities honestly and decisively.
Message to Government and Citizens
In a direct message to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku cautioned against what he described as complacency and deflection in addressing national challenges.
He stated that political power should be viewed as a responsibility rather than an entitlement, emphasizing that Nigerians expect tangible results and effective leadership.
The former vice president called on the government to urgently restore public confidence by presenting a credible strategy to tackle insecurity, stabilize the economy, and improve governance.
Addressing Nigerians directly, Atiku urged citizens to remain vigilant and actively demand accountability from leaders, insisting that meaningful national transformation would ultimately depend on the collective resolve of the people rather than external actors.
“Nigeria at a Critical Juncture”
Concluding the statement, Atiku said Nigeria is at a defining moment in its history and must choose between confronting difficult realities or allowing instability to deepen further.
He argued that the current moment requires courage, honesty, and decisive leadership, warning that failure to act decisively could jeopardize the nation’s future.
The statement was signed by Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, who served as Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.
