Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed his planned visit to the United States to draw international attention to the worsening insecurity, economic hardship and poor standards of governance in Nigeria.
Atiku’s next engagement will involve talking to policy and institutional actors in the US.
The country is in a “full-blown internal crisis” that can no longer be downplayed or politicised, Atiku said in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday.
“From the bloody violence in the North-West and North-East, to the unending bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and the spreading phenomenon of kidnapping and criminality across the country, Atiku warns that the Nigerian state is gradually losing its grip on its most fundamental task, which is the protection of lives and property.
“His view is this has moved out of isolated incidents and into a pattern of systemic failure. Communities are overwhelmed, livelihoods are lost, citizens are left to their own devices.
“He believes that any government that is unable to provide basic security loses the moral basis of its mandate,” the statement read.
On the economy, Atiku said there was increasing hardship, adding that inflation was rising, the currency had weakened and purchasing power was declining.
“The currency collapse and the increase in inflation have pushed millions into distress and the policy inconsistency and lack of strategic direction continue to erode confidence in the economy,” the statement said.
The former vice president has also raised alarm about the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that a decline in public confidence in governance, accountability and the electoral process could pose a threat to national stability.
“With the country heading into another election cycle, he warns that any effort to undermine transparency or to try to manipulate outcomes will have serious repercussions for both unity and legitimacy,” the statement said.
Atiku dismissed suggestions that working with international partners means inviting foreign interference in response to potential criticism of his intended US engagement.
Atiku is clear: to tell the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic. He dismisses the idea that working with international partners is the same as inviting foreign interference, saying that Nigeria is not living in a vacuum and cannot plead ignorance to the fact that its own internal failures have external repercussions.
He said the world is seeing what’s happening, and the real question is whether Nigerian leaders are ready to face it honestly.
“He reiterates that only Nigerians will decide who leads Nigeria but believes that international partners have a legitimate stake in the stability, governance standards and democratic health of a country as strategically important as Nigeria,” the statement said.
In a message to the present administration, Atiku called on the government to “re-set its priorities urgently,” build confidence among the people and present a credible strategy to address insecurity and economic challenges.
He also urged Nigerians to be vigilant and hold their leaders accountable, stating that real change comes from within.
Nigeria is at a “critical juncture” and needs “courage, honesty and decisive leadership” to prevent further instability, Atiku said.
The development comes as political activities start to gather steam ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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