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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that his forthcoming engagement with policy and institutional stakeholders in the United States will focus on the “alarming deterioration of security, governance, and economic stability in Nigeria.”
Atiku disclosed this through his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, in a statement released on Sunday.
Atiku, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007, said Nigeria is facing a full-blown internal crisis “that can no longer be downplayed, politicised, or explained away.”
He cited “ravaging violence in the North-West and North-East,” persistent bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and the growing spread of kidnapping and criminality across the country.
“The Nigerian state is steadily losing its grip on its most fundamental responsibility: the protection of lives and property,” Atiku said.
“Communities are being overrun, livelihoods destroyed, and citizens abandoned to their fate. Any government that cannot guarantee basic security forfeits the moral basis of its mandate.”
Atiku also pointed to deepening economic hardship, describing it as “both severe and avoidable.” He noted 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.
“Nigerians are not just tired, they are being stretched to the limits of endurance,” he said.
The former vice president raised concerns about the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that declining public confidence in governance, accountability, and the electoral process poses a direct threat to national stability.
As the country moves toward another election cycle, he said, “any attempt to undermine transparency or manipulate outcomes will carry serious consequences for both unity and legitimacy.”
Addressing anticipated criticism of his international engagement, Atiku said telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic.
“Responsible leadership does not hide from scrutiny, it welcomes it as a pathway to improvement,” he said.
He rejected 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.”
“The world already sees what is happening; the real question is whether Nigerian leaders are prepared to confront it honestly,” Atiku added.
In a direct message to the current administration, Atiku warned against complacency and deflection, saying, “Power is not an entitlement but a responsibility, and Nigerians expect results, not explanations.”
He called on the government to urgently reset its priorities, restore public confidence, and demonstrate a clear, credible strategy for addressing insecurity and economic decline.
To Nigerians, Atiku said “no nation survives in silence” and urged citizens to remain vigilant, engaged, and unyielding in their demand for accountability.
“Real change will not come from outside the country but from the collective will of its people,” he said.
PRESS RELEASE@atiku Sets Agenda for Proposed US Visit
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has declared that his forthcoming engagement with policy and institutional stakeholders in the United States will be driven by one overriding concern: the alarming… pic.twitter.com/YwtKWLZ7Bj
— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) May 3, 2026
