“The greatest irresponsibility” – Atiku blasts Tinubu govt’s response to insecurity

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has sharply criticized the present administration’s handling of insecurity in the country, describing its approach as “the greatest irresponsibility by any political leader anywhere.”

Speaking when he reeceived a political group in his Abuja home, Atiku decried what he called a glaring lack of political will to combat insurgency and protect citizens’ lives.

“There is a lack of political will in the present government to tackle insecurity. When they are killing your citizens, and you can even eat, and you don’t give a damn — that is the greatest irresponsibility by any political leader anywhere,” he said.

Atiku also took the opportunity to reflect on his time in office, recalling the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to him, the terrorist group first emerged in Yobe State in 2002 while he served as Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“You remember when Boko Haram started in Yobe? It was actually in 2002. We were in office. The President sent for me. He said, ‘What do we do about this?’ I said, ‘Mr. President, let’s call the Service Chiefs and give them a deadline.

“If they can’t put down Boko Haram, then they should put down their uniform, and we’d get some other people.’

“The President called the Service Chiefs and gave them marching orders, and within a few weeks, they put down the insurgency,” Atiku narrated.

Atiku’s comments come as Nigerians continue to endure security challenges — from insurgency in the North-East to banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence in other parts of the country.