Atiku Urges President Tinubu to Heed CAN’s Security Recommendations

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action on the recommendations recently issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding the nation’s escalating security crisis. Atiku’s statement follows a communique from CAN’s 2026 National Church Leaders Summit, which condemned the widespread wave of kidnappings and demanded the safe release of all abducted schoolchildren.

Atiku expressed his support for the church’s position, noting that the call for structural reform aligns with his own criticisms of the current administration. In a post on X, he wrote: “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.”

The former Vice President highlighted specific areas where he believes the government has failed, particularly concerning the country’s security architecture. He stated, “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.”

Atiku further encouraged other religious groups, specifically within the Muslim community, to join the call for government accountability. He argued that the current insecurity affects all citizens regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, and that a collective voice is necessary to drive change.

Concluding his message, Atiku challenged the President to move past political rhetoric and address the security challenges with tangible action. “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 rhetoric, at least for his remaining months in office,” he noted.