Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the Christian Association of Nigeria, calling President Bola Tinubu’s record on security a “360-degree failure” and urging Muslim organisations to join the demand for urgent action.
Atiku’s statement came Wednesday in response to CAN’s communique from its 2026 National Church Leaders Summit in Abuja. CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh had asked leaders to put citizen safety above politics and demanded the immediate release of kidnapped schoolchildren, teachers and other captives. The association also declared a three-day period of national mourning.
“I align with the concern and sympathies of the Church in Nigeria over the security of lives,” Atiku said. He endorsed CAN’s call for a review of the security architecture, better intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, and more accountability in fighting terrorism and banditry.
He praised unity among Christian denominations — from the Catholic Secretariat to CPFN and TEKAN/ECWA — saying it should be a wake-up call for political leaders.
“As insecurity ravages without regard for religion or ethnicity, I commend this effort to hold the ruling party accountable,” Atiku added. “I enjoin other faith organisations, especially Muslim groups, to lend their voices.”
He urged Tinubu to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps in his remaining months in office.
