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 will talk to policy and institutional actors in the US during his upcoming engagement.
Atiku, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday, said the country was in a “full-blown internal crisis” that could no longer be downplayed or politicised.
“From the rampant violence in the North-West and North-East, to the incessant bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and the increasing spread of kidnapping and criminality across the country, Atiku warns that the Nigerian state is gradually losing its grip on its most fundamental responsibility, which is the protection of lives and property.
“His view is that it has gone beyond isolated incidents into a pattern of systemic failure. Communities are being overwhelmed, livelihoods lost, and citizens left to their own devices.
“He contends that any government that cannot 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.
He notes that the collapse of the currency and the rise in inflation have pushed millions into distress and that the policy inconsistency and the lack of strategic direction continue to erode confidence in the economy,” the statement said.
The former vice president has also expressed concerns 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: telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic. He dismisses the idea that working with global partners is tantamount to inviting foreign interference, emphasizing that Nigeria does not live in a vacuum and cannot feign ignorance of its internal failures having external consequences.
He said the world sees what is happening and the real question is whether Nigerian leaders are prepared 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 “urgently re-set its priorities,” restore confidence among the people and show a credible strategy to tackle insecurity and economic challenges.
He also urged Nigerians to be vigilant and hold leaders accountable, stressing that true change would come 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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