Atiku flags insecurity, economic collapse ahead of US trip

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar is set to embark on a significant visit to the United States, a move aimed at galvanizing international attention towards Nigeria's deepening crises. Through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Abubakar has articulated his intent to engage with US policy and institutional stakeholders, framing the current situation in Nigeria as a "full-blown internal crisis" that can no longer be ignored or politicized.

“

From the ravaging violence in the North-West and North-East, to the persistent bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and the growing spread of kidnapping and criminality across the country, Atiku warns that the Nigerian state is steadily losing its grip on its most fundamental responsibility: the protection of lives and property.

Abubakar's critique is sharp and far-reaching. He paints a grim picture of Nigeria's security landscape, characterized by escalating violence in the North-West and North-East, persistent bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and a nationwide surge in kidnapping and criminality. He contends that the Nigerian state is demonstrably failing in its most fundamental duty: the protection of lives and property. This failure, he argues, has moved beyond isolated incidents to a pattern of systemic collapse, leaving communities vulnerable and citizens abandoned.

“

He notes that rising inflation, a weakened currency, and collapsing purchasing power have pushed millions into distress, while policy inconsistency and lack of strategic direction continue to erode confidence in the economy.

Economically, Abubakar points to a deepening hardship fueled by rising inflation, a depreciated currency, and a dwindling purchasing power that has plunged millions into distress. He attributes this to policy inconsistency and a lack of strategic direction, which he believes are eroding confidence in the nation's economy. Furthermore, he expresses grave concern over the state of Nigeria's democratic institutions, warning that declining public trust in governance, accountability, and the electoral process poses a threat to national stability.

“

As the country moves toward another election cycle, he insists that any attempt to undermine transparency or manipulate outcomes will carry serious consequences for both unity and legitimacy.

Addressing potential criticism, Abubakar firmly rejects the notion that engaging international partners constitutes an invitation for foreign interference. He asserts that "telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic" and that Nigeria's internal failures have undeniable external implications. While maintaining that Nigerians alone will determine their leadership, he stresses that international partners have a legitimate interest in the stability and governance of a strategically important nation like Nigeria. This visit, therefore, is not merely a diplomatic trip but a strategic effort to rally international support and awareness for Nigeria's multifaceted challenges, a perspective often overlooked in Western media's focus on isolated events rather than systemic issues.

“

Atiku is unequivocal: telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic. He rejects the notion that engaging global partners amounts to inviting foreign interference, stressing that Nigeria does not exist in isolation and cannot pretend that its internal failures have no external implications.