Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu over his continued stay in France amid a surge in deadly violence across Nigeria, accusing the president of “abandoning the country” during one of its darkest moments.
In a statement issued by his media office on Thursday, Atiku described Tinubu’s latest foreign trip as a “vacation cloaked in official jargon” and said the president had shown “contempt” for Nigerians by remaining abroad while communities in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country are under attack.
President Tinubu departed for France on April 2 on what the presidency described as a “working visit.”
However, critics have questioned the timing and necessity of the trip, pointing to a growing death toll from violent attacks at home and the lack of clear communication on what the “working visit” entails.
“By the time Tinubu struts back from this latest escapade, he will have racked up a staggering 59 days in France since assuming office,” Atiku said.
“While Tinubu dines under chandeliers in the land of good governance, the country he governs is spiraling into chaos.”
The former vice president referenced the recent killings in Plateau State, where over 100 people have died in repeated attacks by armed assailants in recent weeks.
Benue State and parts of the North-East are also experiencing renewed violence linked to Boko Haram and bandit groups, with thousands displaced and communities living in fear.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, described the president’s continued foreign travels as a “dereliction of duty on a catastrophic scale.”
“Nigeria is in a full-blown state of emergency. Not a contrived political emergency like what Tinubu declared in Rivers for partisan gain – this is a national collapse,” he said.
Atiku questioned the logic of spending billions on borrowing while the president embarks on what he called “vanity trips” abroad, suggesting that nothing Tinubu is doing in France could not be done from Nigeria.
“Let the facts speak for themselves. What justification is there for gallivanting across Europe while Nigeria bleeds?”
This is not the first time Atiku has criticised Tinubu’s foreign engagements.
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has made multiple trips to France, drawing scrutiny over costs and transparency.
The latest trip comes amid mounting pressure on the federal government to act decisively on worsening insecurity and economic hardship.
The Presidency has not responded directly to Atiku’s latest statement, but government officials have previously defended Tinubu’s trips abroad as necessary for attracting investment and strengthening diplomatic ties.
However, public frustration is growing, particularly in light of the cost-of-living crisis, persistent fuel scarcity, a volatile naira, and the surge in deadly violence in several parts of the country.
The criticism also comes as Atiku intensifies efforts to build a pan-Nigerian coalition aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
On Wednesday, he announced that consultations were ongoing with political stakeholders across regions and party lines.
While PDP governors have expressed reservations about the idea, Atiku insists the coalition will move forward.
Tribune
