- Atiku Abubakar condemned President Tinubu’s absence during escalating violence in Plateau and Benue states, urging him to declare a state of emergency
- The former PDP candidate criticised Tinubu’s “vanity trips” to France, accusing him of neglecting national crises while spending 59 days abroad
- Atiku accused Tinubu of lacking empathy and urged the President to return and address the emergencies plaguing the country
Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing criticism of President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to declare a state of emergency over what he describes as the President’s “own disastrous presidency.”
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Atiku lambasted Tinubu for leaving Nigeria amid escalating violence and insecurity, particularly in Plateau and Benue States, while embarking on what the Presidency labelled a “working visit” to France.
“Atiku said Nigeria is in a full-blown state of emergency,” the statement reads, adding that the President’s absence during a time of national crisis was a dereliction of duty of catastrophic proportions.
According to the former Vice President, over 100 lives have been lost in Plateau State due to relentless attacks, while Benue continues to grapple with widespread violence. Atiku also cited Boko Haram’s resurgence and deepening poverty as evidence of Nigeria’s dire state under Tinubu’s leadership.
“On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu flew out to France. Had this absurd announcement come just a day earlier, Nigerians would have dismissed it as an April Fool’s joke, But sadly, it’s no prank — just another insult to a nation pushed to the brink by a presidency that treats its citizens like fools,” the statement further read.
Ibe further accused the Tinubu administration of squandering public funds on what he described as “vanity trips,” stating that the President has now spent a total of 59 days in France since assuming office less than a year ago.
“See Paris and die? No — see Paris and abandon your country,” the statement mocked.
Atiku condemned what he characterised as Tinubu’s lack of empathy, urging him to return home and face the crises engulfing the country. He criticised Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State for “partisan gain” while allegedly ignoring the real emergency Nigeria is facing as a nation.
“There is absolutely nothing Tinubu is doing in France that he couldn’t do in Lagos, or even in Iragbiji, This so-called ‘working visit’ is nothing more than a vacation cloaked in official jargon,” the statement added.
The presidency has yet to respond formally to Atiku’s remarks, but aides have continued to insist that the President’s trip is in the national interest.
Atiku urges Tinubu to prioritise unity, democracy over divisive policies
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to put Nigeria first and align its actions with its rhetoric, particularly in promoting national unity and strengthening the country’s democracy.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku expressed concerns about the growing divisions along ethnic, religious, and class lines since Tinubu took office.
