Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cut short his ongoing trip to France and return home to confront the worsening security situation.
The President left Nigeria on April 2 for what has been described by the presidency as a two-week working visit to France.
However, in the last two weeks, Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing rise in violence, particularly in Plateau and Benue states, where over 100 people have reportedly been killed.
Speaking through his media aide Paul Ibe, Atiku criticized Tinubu’s extended stays abroad, claiming the President has spent nearly 60 days in France since assuming office. “Let the facts speak for themselves. By the time Tinubu struts back from this latest escapade, he will have racked up a staggering 59 days in France since assuming office,” Ibe said.
Ibe continued with a scathing remark: “See Paris and die? No — see Paris and abandon your country. While Tinubu dines under chandeliers in the land of good governance, the country he governs is spiraling into chaos. Plateau has turned into a killing field — over 100 lives lost in relentless attacks.”
He also noted the deteriorating security in Benue and the resurgence of Boko Haram in some regions, stating that people are living in fear and despair. “Benue is bleeding. Boko Haram is seizing territory. And every single day, Nigerians sink deeper into poverty, insecurity, and despair,” he added.
According to Atiku’s media office, Tinubu’s absence at such a critical time reflects a failure in leadership. “This isn’t just negligence. It’s dereliction of duty on a catastrophic scale. If Tinubu had even a shred of empathy, he would cut his trip short and return immediately.”
The statement further questions the necessity of the president’s foreign trips, suggesting that the tasks described as “working visits” can be carried out within Nigeria. It accuses the government of insensitivity and disconnect from the plight of citizens.
“Let’s be honest: there is absolutely nothing Tinubu is doing in France that he couldn’t do in Lagos, or even in Iragbiji,” the statement said. It ended with a harsh reflection: “So when, exactly, will Tinubu declare a state of emergency on his own disastrous presidency?”
