President Bola Tinubu has dismissed criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding his handling of security issues, describing it as “reckless.”
In a statement by the special adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, he said the comments by the former VP showed Atiku was still nursing a “hangover” from his electoral defeat.
The rebuttal comes after Atiku had accused Tinubu of “fiddling” while the country faces security and economic problems.
In the past week, hundreds have been kidnapped across several states of the country.
However, Onanuga defended Tinubu’s recent private trip to France, saying the president informed Nigerians and gave a return date.
He stated Tinubu has been in constant contact with officials and ordered security forces to apprehend those responsible for recent kidnappings and killings of traditional leaders.
He said, “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s statement accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is to say the least, reckless.
“Coming days after he made an equally reckless allegation against the President on the crude for loan deal for NNPC Limited, his latest statement fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.
“We like to believe that Alhaji Atiku is still not nursing hangover of his electoral defeat and now latches on any issue to attack President Tinubu.
“President Tinubu did not travel without informing Nigerians of his whereabout. He announced a private visit to France and announced a return date.
“While in France, President Tinubu has been following developments at home and he is on top of the situation in the country. Today’s inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum wage bore his imprimatur .
“He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country.
“He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.”
He also highlighted recent arrests of kidnappers and rescue of hostages by Police and DSS operatives.
Onanuga also referenced Tinubu’s approval of special funding to tackle challenges in the North-East where Atiku hails from.
Onanuga said Atiku’s comments were “cheap politics” and that Tinubu was fully engaged in restoring peace across the country.
He reiterated the administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies to defeat criminal elements.
“We are already seeing results with the arrest of over 139 kidnappers around Abuja, Kaduna and Benue States in the last one week. The police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and DSS have also rescued 154 abducted persons in the last few days.
“Just last week President Tinubu approved N50billion as Special Fund to address some of the lingering security challenges in North East where Alhaji Atiku hails from. To cope with the kidnapping challenges in the FCT, President Tinubu also approved funds for the acquisition of equipment to track criminals.
“If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.
“Our security agencies are working very hard to bring the security situation under control.
“President Tinubu is giving them all the necessary support they need to win the battle against criminal elements and secure every inch of our country,” he added.
