On Sunday, the Presidency addressed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s assertion that the reported deaths of 5,091 Nigerians in violent incidents over three months reflected poorly on President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The Presidency contended that during the same period, security forces managed to eliminate more than 13,000 terrorists and rescue thousands of Nigerians from captivity.
They argued that Atiku overlooked the successes of the Armed Forces against terrorism, choosing instead to engage in what was termed “a politics of despair.”
In an interview with one of our correspondents, Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, refuted claims made by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku criticized President Tinubu’s security record as grim, using the death toll as a basis for advocating for a change in government.
Ajayi responded by highlighting the achievements of security agencies over the past three months, noting that official figures indicate they’ve killed between 13,000 to 20,000 terrorists and rescued at least 10,000 Nigerians from dangerous situations handled by various security bodies including the DSS and the military.
Ajayi questioned why Atiku did not acknowledge these efforts, accusing him of ignoring positive developments because they did not align with his political strategy. He emphasized the consistent rescue operations carried out by the military, police, and other agencies across various states, with recent rescues involving 308 people in Niger State alone.
Ajayi pointed out that beyond rescues, the military has been actively combating armed groups through offensive operations. He accused Atiku of focusing on negative narratives to instill fear and despondency for political gain.
He criticized Atiku’s approach as unbecoming of a former Vice President, arguing that as a statesman, Atiku should adopt a more constructive stance instead of spreading hopelessness.
Ajayi predicted that President Tinubu would achieve a decisive victory in the 2027 elections, dismissing Atiku’s chances. He expressed confidence that Tinubu is effectively addressing insecurity and stabilizing the country, which would ensure his electoral success despite any opposing campaigns from Atiku and his supporters.
Atiku had previously stated that the alarming death toll reflected a failure on the part of the Tinubu administration to uphold its fundamental duty to protect citizens’ lives and property.
