By Kingston Magare 18.11.2025
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu to wake up to his responsibility of safeguarding lives and property in Nigeria, rather than chase after political opponents in his quest to remain in power beyond 2027.
Atiku who was lamenting the execution of Brigadier-General Musa Uba and others by Islamic State in West Africa terrorists last Friday, said Tinubu has failed in keeping the nation safe and secured leading to the untimely and unnecessary deaths suffered in the hands of insurgent elements.
Atiku who is aspiring to contest again in the 2027 presidential elections also knocked the military authorities for not being able to subdue the terror gangs who seem to be having the upper hand in the northeast. He faulted the army for initially denying Brig. General Uba was captured and later killed.
“I am deeply saddened and extremely shocked and disturbed by the killing of Brig. Gen. Musa Uba by terrorists and the failure of the military hierarchy to clearly explain how it happened or what went wrong, as initial official denials indicated that this was not the case,” Atiku stated
“This for me is unequivocally a failure of political leadership as the President seems only more interested in decimating the opposition by all means possible, while forgetting his crucial role as Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces.
To Mr. President: the security of the lives of our people is your primary responsibility and you must live up to it or be humble enough to admit incompetence and either ask for help or resign.
“Gen. Musa’s death along with the deaths of some of the troops he was leading is one death too many and a bold terrorist resurgence our dear country cannot afford.”
He urged the government to declare war on the insurgent elements anywhere they operate in the country.
“If I was President, I would order the military to occupy Borno State or any state under siege by bandits or armed groups until they clear those areas. We must care enough for the men and women who put their lives on the line for our sake.”