“You Cannot Campaign on Graves of Nigerians” – Atiku Slams Tinubu Over Maiduguri Blasts

By Folarin Adeyemi Aluko

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu following the recent multiple suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, which left 23 people dead and 108 others injured.

In a statement released hours after the attacks, Atiku expressed deep concern over the resurgence of suicide bombings in the region, noting that Nigeria appeared to have made significant progress against such threats in the past. He condemned the wave of killings targeting both soldiers and civilians by Boko Haram and ISWAP, describing the attacks as a stark reminder that terrorism remains a persistent and deadly threat.

While commending the bravery and sacrifices of the Nigerian Military, the police, and other security operatives, Atiku called for an urgent review of the nation’s security strategies under the Tinubu administration. He stressed that terrorists do not discriminate between supporters of the ruling APC and opposition sympathizers, making it unhelpful for government officials to dismiss constructive advice as politically motivated.

Atiku stated, “A government that is too heavily invested in the 2027 reelection campaign is unlikely to accept the reality of insecurity and attack those who dare talk about the gaps. A mother in Maiduguri is not asking for press releases. She is asking why her child was blown apart in a place the government claimed was ‘liberated.’”

The former vice president also criticized President Tinubu’s recent visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles, noting that Nigerian soldiers continue to fight terrorists with outdated equipment. He remarked that Tinubu’s visit, in the midst of such insecurity, left behind “fresh graves and weeping widows” while he posed for cameras abroad.

“At a time when the government treats funerals as routine and criticism as treason, it has clearly lost the moral authority to lead,” Atiku added. “You cannot campaign for 2027 on the graves of the people you failed to protect in 2026.”

He further observed that Nigerians are increasingly frustrated with mere government statements condemning attacks, emphasizing that citizens want tangible results rather than rhetoric. “The Tinubu government appears to be more obsessed with crushing opposition politicians than it is with fixing the worsening security challenges. And it is obvious that despite the marching orders, the terrorists are still on the offensive,” Atiku concluded.

This latest statement from the former vice president highlights growing public concern over Nigeria’s security situation, particularly in the northeast, where insurgent attacks continue to claim lives and threaten stability.