By Ayo Kehinde
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his handling of Monday’s deadly explosion in Maiduguri, Borno State, which claimed 23 lives and left 108 others injured.
President Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the attack and ordered the immediate deployment of all service chiefs to the Borno State capital to strengthen security operations and prevent further attacks.
But reacting via his official X handle, Atiku described the President’s response as insufficient, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of prioritising political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election over urgent national security concerns.
“Terrorists don’t know the difference between APC supporters and opposition sympathisers, and it is therefore unhelpful to dismiss honest advice as politically motivated”, Atiku stated.
He stressed that Nigerians, particularly victims of insurgency, are more concerned about concrete outcomes than official pronouncements.
“A mother in Maiduguri is not asking for press releases. She is asking why her child was blown apart in a place the government claimed was liberated”, he added.
The former Vice President also raised concerns over the President’s ongoing trip to the United Kingdom, arguing that the timing sends the wrong signal amid renewed violence in the North-East.
“Our soldiers are dying with outdated equipment while the President is on a state visit to Britain, while body parts are being gathered in Borno”, he added.
Atiku further called the attention of King Charles III to the situation, alleging that the President had left behind “fresh graves and weeping widows” while engaging in diplomatic engagements abroad.
He warned that treating deadly attacks as routine while dismissing criticism could erode public confidence in the government.
“A government that treats funerals as routine and criticism as treason has lost the moral authority to lead. You cannot campaign for 2027 on the graves of the people you failed to protect in 2026”, he said.
Atiku also accused the administration of focusing more on suppressing opposition voices than addressing the worsening security situation, noting that Nigerians are increasingly demanding tangible improvements.
“The resurgence of terrorism is capable of eroding public confidence in the ability of the government to protect its citizens. Nigerians are not impressed with statements condemning attacks; they want results. Results speak louder than rhetoric”, he concluded.
He warned that the rising wave of attacks on both civilians and military personnel is reviving memories of 2014, when insurgent activities peaked across parts of the country.
While commending the sacrifices of security forces engaged in counterinsurgency operations, Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to urgently review its security strategy to curb the escalating violence and restore public confidence.
