Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has endorsed the concerns raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria over the worsening security situation in the country, urging President Bola Tinubu to heed the church’s recommendations and take decisive action.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Atiku said he had read the communiqué released by CAN under the leadership of Archbishop Daniel Okoh following the 2026 National Church Leaders Summit and aligned himself with the church’s concerns and sympathies regarding the safety of Nigerians.
The former presidential candidate said CAN’s demand for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, enhanced operational effectiveness and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry and violent crime reflected his long-standing criticism of the current administration’s handling of security challenges.
Atiku described the united stance of Christian leaders across denominations and blocs as an encouraging development, noting that the church’s call for a three-day period of national mourning should serve as a moment of reflection for political leaders, particularly those in positions of authority.
According to him, the participation of groups including the Catholic Secretariat, the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, and the TEKAN/ECWA bloc demonstrated a collective resolve to demand better governance and improved security for citizens.
He argued that insecurity continues to affect Nigerians regardless of religion or ethnicity, blaming what he described as the “360-degree failure” of the current government for the worsening situation.
Atiku commended CAN for what he called a noble effort to hold the ruling party accountable and urged Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the church’s position. He also called on Muslim organisations and other faith-based groups to join the growing demand for urgent action to address the nation’s security crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition and Nigerians affected by insecurity, Atiku urged President Tinubu to listen to CAN’s appeal and move beyond rhetoric by taking concrete steps to tackle the challenges facing the country.
