Atiku Media Office has said former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, was in a state of stupor while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was condemning, empathising and proffering solutions to terrorist and banditry attacks in Benue, Plateau, and other states

“We read with amusement, but concern for the mental state of former SGF Babachir Lawal, his latest attempt at revisionism of his disgraceful public service record and failed efforts to cause the rigging of the ADC presidential primary,” Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said.

Ibe stated that instead of addressing his ignominious role in presiding over a scam in which he allegedly extorted money to secure the presidential ticket, but failed because those charged with conducting the election stopped him in his tracks, Babachir Lawal has resorted to personal attacks against Atiku.

Ibe revealed that it is public record that the former VP had always spoken against terrorist and banditry attacks and shown empathy to communities that were attacked.

He said that despite the fact that Atiku Abubakar is Fulani from Adamawa, in the North East region, the ADC presidential candidate in the 2027 election, has frequently spoken out and forcefully too in condemnation of terrorist and banditry attacks and the escalating wave of kidnappings across Nigeria.

“When responding to these incidents, he often criticises the Federal Government and the leader of the government of the day, and in this dispensation, President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the country’s security architecture is collapsing and that officials rely on “empty statements” rather than taking decisive, preventive action.

“It is also on record that the Waziri Adamawa advocates for an overhaul of Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework. He has frequently called on the National Assembly to pass legislation that would allow state governments to arm their own security outfits with modern weapons to complement overstretched federal forces,” Atiku’s spokesperson said.

According to Ibe, Atiku has also highlighted the importance of localised efforts, urging community members to provide intelligence to security agencies and to avoid acting as informants for armed groups.

Ibe also highlighted his proposal to create a National Victims and Survivors Support Framework to ensure that affected communities receive psychological support, educational opportunities, and economic recovery programmes.

Also highlighted is the former Vice President’s proposal for a Special Court not only to try these criminals but also to impose capital punishment on those found guilty.

“When Babachir Lawal is eventually sober, he may wish to take out time to review some of the links of news reports in which Atiku Abubakar spoke against terrorist and banditry attacks and proposed solutions. Those engagements covered every state of the country without exception,” Ibe said. (The Guardian)