Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over reports that 5,091 Nigerians were killed in violent incidents across the country within three months, describing the development as a damning reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku, who described the government’s security record as a “scorecard soaked in blood,” however, welcomed the recent announcement of an increase in the salaries of members of the Armed Forces.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said the reported killings highlighted what he described as the administration’s failure to adequately fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
He said the figures represented more than statistics, noting that each death reflected the devastating impact of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity on families and communities.
“Behind every number is a Nigerian whose life was cut short, a family thrown into mourning, children deprived of parents and communities condemned to fear,” Atiku said.
“Five thousand and ninety-one reported killings in just three months should trouble the conscience of any government.”
The former vice president linked the country’s worsening security situation to what he described as fiscal indiscipline, wasteful spending and poor implementation of budgetary allocations under the Tinubu administration.
According to him, inadequate funding and inefficient implementation of critical security-related appropriations had weakened the capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to effectively respond to threats.
“These figures are the human cost of every padded budget, every frivolous expenditure and every failure to fully implement funds appropriated for critical national priorities,” he said.
“You cannot run the public treasury as though it were a private purse, squander scarce resources on questionable priorities and then expect soldiers and other security personnel on the front lines to perform miracles.”
Atiku said public resources should be directed towards strengthening national security and providing security personnel with the equipment and support needed to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
While welcoming the planned salary increase for military personnel, the ADC presidential candidate said improved remuneration alone would not be sufficient to address the challenges confronting troops.
“Our soldiers deserve better pay, but morale is about much more than salaries,” he said.
“They require adequate equipment, operational funding, timely allowances, proper welfare for their families and the assurance that the government they defend is as committed to their mission as they are.”
Atiku called for greater transparency and accountability in public spending, particularly in the implementation of defence and security budgets.
He said the government must cut waste, eliminate questionable expenditure and ensure that funds appropriated for critical national priorities were properly deployed.
“A government that cannot protect its citizens has failed the first test of governance,” Atiku said.
He added that every Nigerian killed in acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime represented a failure of the state.
“Today, we have 5,091 reported killings in just three months, 5,091 shattered families, 5,091 indictments of this administration’s security failures, and ultimately, 5,091 reasons this government must go,” he said.
