'Nigeria is bleeding': Atiku slams Tinubu’s absence amid rising insecurity

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to declare a "state of emergency" on his own administration amid worsening insecurity and economic hardship across Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Atiku accused Tinubu of abandoning the country during a time of escalating violence and despair, describing his ongoing trip to France as a thinly veiled vacation rather than a legitimate working visit.

"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," Atiku said.

The former PDP candidate cited deteriorating security conditions in Plateau and Benue states, where over 100 people have been reported killed in recent weeks.

He also pointed to the growing threat of Boko Haram, rising poverty, and a national mood of desperation.

"While Tinubu dines under chandeliers in the land of good governance, the country he governs is spiralling into chaos.

"This isn’t just negligence. It’s dereliction of duty on a catastrophic scale," the statement read.

Atiku faults Tinubu's foreign trips amid insecurity

Atiku criticised Tinubu’s frequent travels, stating that the president has spent 59 days in France since taking office.

“See Paris and die? No — see Paris and abandon your country,” he quipped.

He argued that Tinubu’s absence at such a critical time reflects a lack of empathy and leadership.

“A leader with an ounce of patriotism wouldn’t need to be begged to show up in times of crisis,” Atiku said.

“Nigeria is in a full-blown state of emergency. So when, exactly, will Tinubu declare a state of emergency on his own disastrous presidency?” the statement concluded.