In the wake of escalating kidnapping incidents in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku expressed his dismay over the prevailing insecurity in the country, asserting that Nigeria is sinking into a sea of insecurity. At the same time, the president, whom he labelled as a tourist-in-chief, embarked on a private visit to France.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the former Vice President questioned the decision of the president to leave the country at a time when kidnappers claimed the lives of a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja due to their inability to pay a ₦90 million ransom. Atiku also highlighted the abduction of two monarchs in Ekiti by suspected herders on Monday, January 29, 2024, as additional evidence of the escalating insecurity crisis.

Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity. To imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among…

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 30, 2024

In light of these distressing incidents, Atiku urged President Tinubu to consider stepping aside if the responsibilities seem overwhelming, emphasizing that Nigeria requires a leader who is fully committed and available 24/7 to address the pervasive issues of insecurity and the collapsing economy. This critique comes amid growing concerns about the security situation in the country and the need for decisive leadership to address these pressing challenges.