Dare Babalola
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the recent call by the Christian Association of Nigeria for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Atiku also urged President Bola Tinubu to heed the concerns raised by church leaders over the worsening security situation in the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, Atiku said he aligned with the position of CAN as contained in the communiqué issued after the 2026 National Church Leaders Summit under the leadership of Daniel Okoh.
The former presidential candidate expressed sympathy with the church over what he described as the continued threat to the lives and safety of Nigerians, noting that the recommendations contained in the communiqué were consistent with his long-held criticism of the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity.
“I have just read the communique released by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of His Grace Archbishop Daniel Okoh from the 2026 National Church Leaders Summit and I align with the concern and sympathies of the Church in Nigeria over the security of the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
Atiku stated that CAN’s demands for reforms in the nation’s security system reflected concerns he had repeatedly raised about the Tinubu administration.
“The demand for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture, enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, improved operational effectiveness and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry and violent crime, are all fully in line with my position on the failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government,” he said.
He also welcomed the decision of various Christian denominations and blocs to unite in calling attention to the country’s security challenges, describing the move as a significant intervention in the national discourse.
“It is encouraging for Nigerians to see Christians from various denominations and blocs unite in this spiritual wake-up call upon the political leadership to do better,” Atiku stated.
“From the Catholic Secretariat to the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches to the TEKAN/ECWA and other Christian blocs in Nigeria, the declaration of a three-day period of national mourning should serve as moments of reflection for all political leaders, especially those in power with the responsibility to do better by Nigerians.”
The former vice president argued that insecurity had continued to affect Nigerians regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations, while blaming the situation on what he described as the failure of the current administration.
“As insecurity ravages without concern for religious or ethnic differences which have been made more glaring by the 360 degrees failure of the incumbent government, I commend this noble effort to hold the ruling party accountable and encourage solidarity from all Nigerians in this regard,” he said.
Atiku further called on Muslim organisations and other faith-based groups to join the campaign for improved security and greater government accountability.
“I enjoin other faith organisations especially of the Muslim block to lend their voices to this wake-up call,” he added.
He urged President Tinubu to take the concerns raised by CAN seriously and act decisively to address the country’s security challenges.
“On behalf of the political opposition whom Tinubu has ignored as well as the Nigerian people, I urge Tinubu to listen to this urgent call from CAN and diligently ponder his courses of action beyond rhetorics, at least for his remaining months in office,” Atiku said.
