Atiku Blames Obasanjo’s Successors for Nigeria’s Escalating Insecurity

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pointed a finger at the leaders who followed President Olusegun Obasanjo, holding them accountable for Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, a charge that has sparked intense debate about leadership failures. His remarks underscore the persistent challenge of insurgency and banditry plaguing the nation.

Speaking in Abuja during a May 2025 visit by stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial District, Atiku recounted how Obasanjo swiftly quelled the Boko Haram insurgency when it emerged in Yobe State in 2002. He described Obasanjo consulting him and issuing a stern ultimatum to service chiefs to crush the group or resign, resulting in the insurgency’s suppression within weeks. 

Atiku criticized subsequent administrations for lacking the political will to tackle security threats, allowing Boko Haram to regroup and new threats like banditry to flourish. He emphasized that leaders who fail to act decisively while citizens are killed bear the greatest responsibility, calling such inaction a betrayal of public trust.

Nigeria’s security landscape remains dire, with over 40,000 deaths and two million displacements attributed to Boko Haram since 2009. Banditry in the northwest and separatist tensions in the southeast have compounded the crisis. Atiku’s comments have reignited discussions about leadership accountability, with some analysts arguing that systemic issues, including corruption and inadequate military funding, have hindered progress. 

Others note that Atiku’s tenure as vice president faced its own challenges, raising questions about his role in shaping security policies. The statement has fueled political tensions, particularly as the 2027 elections approach, with Atiku positioning himself as a critic of current governance.