Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Tinubu administration over its handling of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, saying the reported killing of 5,091 Nigerians in three months exposes a major failure in the government’s responsibility to protect lives.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The former vice president said the reported casualty figure should not be treated as another security statistic, arguing that each death represents a family thrown into mourning and another failure by the state to provide adequate protection.
“Behind every number is a Nigerian whose life was cut short, a family thrown into mourning, children deprived of parents and communities condemned to fear. Five thousand and ninety-one reported killings in just three months should trouble the conscience of any government.”
Atiku linked the security crisis to what he described as fiscal indiscipline, wasteful expenditure and poor implementation of funds appropriated for national security.
He argued that while the government continues to make commitments to fighting insecurity, the resources required by the military and other security agencies must be properly allocated and deployed.
“These figures are the human cost of every padded budget, every frivolous expenditure and every failure to fully implement funds appropriated for critical national priorities.
“You cannot run the public treasury as though it were a private purse, squander scarce resources on questionable priorities and then expect soldiers and other security personnel on the frontlines to perform miracles.
“The continued pattern of treating fiscal appropriation as an inconvenience while public resources are diverted to wasteful and politically expedient projects undermines national security and impedes the capacity of our Armed Forces and other security agencies to respond decisively to threats.”
Atiku welcomed the recently announced pay increase for military personnel but maintained that improved salaries alone would not be enough to address the challenges confronting troops on the frontlines.
“Our soldiers deserve better pay, but morale is about much more than salaries. They require adequate equipment, operational funding, timely allowances, proper welfare for their families and the assurance that the government they defend is as committed to their mission as they are.”
He called on the Federal Government to cut what he described as wasteful and questionable expenditure and improve the implementation of budgetary allocations, particularly those meant for defence and security.
Atiku said the continued loss of lives to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violence raises serious questions about the government’s ability to fulfil its basic constitutional responsibility.
“A government that cannot protect its citizens has failed the first test of governance. Nigerians cannot continue to pay with their lives for the failures, waste and misplaced priorities of an administration that has failed in its most basic constitutional duty.
“Every Nigerian needlessly lost to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes represents a failure of the state. These are not mere statistics. They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, breadwinners and citizens who had every right to expect protection from their government.
“Today, we have 5,091 reported killings in just three months, 5,091 shattered families, 5,091 indictments of this administration’s security failures, and ultimately, 5,091 reasons this government must go.
