Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to safeguard Nigerians, claiming that terrorists and robbers have emerged as an alternative government.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Atiku denounced the assertion made by Tinubu’s media representative, Bayo Onanuga, regarding the Department of State Services’ (DSS) involvement with terrorists and questioned why the criminals weren’t apprehended and eliminated.
The statement says, “The remarks made by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on the freedom of the Kebbi schoolgirls on Arise News TV yesterday (Tuesday) are, to put it mildly, a disgraceful attempt to whitewash a national tragedy and pass off government incompetence as heroism.”
In all honesty, the release of kidnapped Nigerians is not a moment to celebrate; rather, it serves as a stark reminder that terrorists are now able to operate freely, engage in open negotiations, and set terms while this administration makes public comments in order to maintain its dignity.
The question is straightforward: Why weren’t these criminals immediately apprehended, neutralized, or demolished if the DSS and the military were able to “track” and “make contact” with the kidnappers in real time, as Onanuga claims? Why does the government brag about having conversations with terrorists rather than taking them out?
Why has kidnapping been reduced to a standard phone conversation between state officials and criminals?
The truth is revealed by this careless and reckless narrative: under Tinubu, terrorists and robbers have taken on the role of an alternative government, negotiating, collecting ransom, and escaping unpunished while the administration applauds their “compliance.”
“No sane country celebrates engaging in negotiations with terrorists it purports to be monitoring.” Allowing kidnappers to return to the forests and commit new abductions is not something that any decent government should be proud of.
“Onanuga and similar individuals ought to cease disparaging Nigerians through propaganda.” Allowing the kidnappers to flee is a national shame that betrays cooperation if the security agencies actually have eyes on them.
“And if they lacked this ability, Onanuga is merely fabricating falsehoods to conceal a grave leadership failure.”
In any case, the statement is a humiliating acknowledgement that this administration has lost control of national security and is now attempting to turn incapacity into success. “Nigerians need protection, not moonlit fairy tales,” Atiku continued.
