Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that Nigeria’s worsening security crisis began during the administration in which former Vice President Atiku Abubakar served under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Oshiomhole made the remarks while speaking on The Mic On Podcast, where he criticised Atiku over his recent attacks on President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity.
The lawmaker, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that opposition candidates seeking to unseat Tinubu in 2027 have failed to present practical solutions to the country’s security challenges.
According to him, symbolic gestures such as condolence visits to communities affected by violence would not bring an end to the decade-long crisis confronting the nation.
“The last thing I heard from Atiku was that he would have visited Plateau or Benue. Is paying condolence visit all that we need to change the security issues?” Oshiomhole said.
He also dismissed claims that President Tinubu lacks empathy because of his official engagements and travel schedules during periods of national tragedy.
“They said, ‘Oh, Tinubu is not sensitive, giving the mood of the nation, he said so so and travelling to so so.’ Do you believe that this is at the heart of insecurity?” he asked.
Oshiomhole then went further to trace the roots of the country’s security challenges to the period when Atiku served as Nigeria’s Vice President between 1999 and 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Insecurity started under Vice President Atiku Abubakar,” he alleged.
Atiku, who has been vocal in criticising the Tinubu administration over rising insecurity and recent attacks in parts of the country, is currently the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former vice president has repeatedly accused the current administration of failing to adequately protect Nigerians and has argued that stronger leadership and a different approach are needed to address the nation’s security challenges.
Oshiomhole’s comments add another layer to the growing war of words between leading political figures as preparations for the 2027 elections gradually gather momentum.
The exchange also reflects the increasing effort by both the ruling party and opposition figures to shape public perception on one of Nigeria’s most pressing issues, insecurity.
While the APC continues to defend the Tinubu administration’s security strategy, opposition leaders insist that more decisive measures are required to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnappings and communal violence across the country.
