The Presidency stated on Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu has been closely monitoring the situation in the country and is well-informed about the security issues, contrary to the claims made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The Presidency also clarified that Tinubu did not travel without informing the public about his whereabouts, as he had announced a private visit to France with a specified return date.
These statements were made in a press release from the State House on Tuesday, signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The press release was issued in response to Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of Tinubu for his alleged failure to address the security crisis in the country.
Atiku expressed his concern about the recent increase in kidnappings and killings of citizens in the country. He specifically mentioned the tragic incident of a nursing mother and her mother being killed in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State.
Atiku questioned why the President chose to go on a private visit to France while the country is facing such severe insecurity.
In response to Atiku’s statement, Onanuga criticized him, saying that his remarks were reckless and did not meet the expectations of an elder statesman.
Onanuga argued that, contrary to what Atiku claimed, Tinubu, a political figure, is actively involved in addressing the security situation.
He stated that Tinubu maintains regular communication with his officials and security chiefs and has instructed them to eradicate all forms of criminality in the country.
“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s statement accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is, to say the least, reckless.
“Coming days after he made an equally reckless allegation against the President on the crude-for-loan deal for NNPC Limited, his latest statement fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.
“We like to believe that Alhaji Atiku is still not nursing the hangover of his electoral defeat and now latches on any issue to attack President Tinubu.
“He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country. He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.
“If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.
“Our security agencies are working very hard to bring the security situation under control. President Tinubu is giving them all the necessary support they need to win the battle against criminal elements and secure every inch of our country,” part of the statement reads.
