The Presidency has refuted claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is “fiddling” while Nigeria drowns in the “ocean of insecurity.”
The response came after Atiku, the main opposition candidate in the 2023 elections, asked Tinubu to step down, stating that the country cannot afford a ‘tourist-in-chief.’
Atiku expressed deep concern about the recent surge in insecurity and the economic challenges facing the country, and he was particularly critical of President Tinubu’s absence in the country as insecurity mounts.
“If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief. The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy,” Atiku declared.
Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Atiku’s claims as “reckless,” adding that Atiku is still not over his electoral defeat and is now latching onto any issue to attack President Tinubu.
Onanuga stated that Tinubu “did not travel without informing Nigerians of his whereabouts” and announced both his departure and return dates.
Onanuga added that the President “has been following developments at home” and remains “on top of the situation” despite being abroad.
“He (Tinubu) is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country,” Onanuga stated.
“He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.”
The presidential spokesman added that if Atiku was concerned about the country’s security issues and not “playing cheap politics,” he should have known that Tinubu was working hard to restore peace to every part of the country.
He also noted that the security agencies are working hard to bring the security situation under control.
“President Tinubu is giving them all the necessary support they need to win the battle against criminal elements and secure every inch of our country.”