In a swift response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s call for the resignation of President Bola Tinubu due to escalating insecurity, the Presidency labeled the statement as “reckless.” Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, asserted that contrary to Atiku’s claims, Tinubu remains in control of the security situation in Nigeria.
Atiku, who was Tinubu’s main challenger in the 2023 presidential poll, accused the President of “playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity.” The former Vice President highlighted recent incidents, including the kidnapping of a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja and attacks on monarchs in Ekiti.
In response, the Presidency dismissed Atiku’s allegations, emphasizing that Tinubu had duly informed the public of his private visit to France and announced a return date. The statement asserted that Tinubu remains actively engaged with the ongoing developments in the country, citing his involvement in the inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage.
The Presidency’s retort questioned Atiku’s motives, suggesting that the former Vice President may still be grappling with the aftermath of his electoral defeat and using any available issue to target President Tinubu.
The statement concluded by urging Atiku to acknowledge Tinubu’s commitment to addressing security challenges in the nation rather than engaging in what was deemed “cheap politics.”