Former VP Atiku Announces US Trip to Highlight Nigeria’s Crisis

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed plans to travel to the United States, aiming to draw global attention to Nigeria’s worsening security situation, economic distress, and declining governance standards.

During the upcoming engagement, Atiku is expected to hold talks with policy and institutional stakeholders in the US.

In an announcement over the weekend, his media office stated that Nigeria is facing a “full-blown internal crisis” that can no longer be ignored or treated as a political issue. Atiku warned that from rampant violence in the North-West and North-East, to persistent bloodshed in the Middle Belt and spreading kidnappings nationwide, the Nigerian state is steadily losing its ability to protect lives and property.

He argued that the situation has moved beyond isolated incidents to a pattern of systemic failure, with communities overrun, livelihoods destroyed, and citizens left helpless. According to him, any government that cannot guarantee basic security forfeits the moral basis of its mandate.

On the economy, Atiku pointed to deepening hardship, including rising inflation, a weakened currency, and collapsing purchasing power that have pushed millions into distress. He noted that policy inconsistency and a lack of strategic direction continue to erode confidence in the economy.

The former vice president also expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that falling public trust in governance, accountability, and the electoral process could threaten national stability. As the next election cycle approaches, he insisted that any attempt to undermine transparency or manipulate outcomes would carry serious consequences for national unity and legitimacy.

Responding to potential criticism that his US engagement amounts to inviting foreign interference, Atiku rejected that notion. He maintained that telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic, arguing that the country does not exist in isolation and cannot pretend its internal failures have no external consequences. He said the world already sees what is happening, and the real question is whether Nigerian leaders are prepared to confront it honestly.

While only Nigerians will decide the country’s leadership, he stressed that international partners have a legitimate interest in the stability and democratic health of a strategically important nation like Nigeria.

Atiku urged the current administration to urgently reset its priorities, restore public confidence, and present a credible strategy to tackle insecurity and economic challenges.

He also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand accountability from leaders, emphasising that meaningful change must come from within. He described Nigeria as being at a critical juncture that requires courage, honesty, and decisive leadership to prevent further instability.

The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. Atiku, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007, has since left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the African Democratic Congress as part of a broader opposition coalition.

The ADC is currently grappling with internal leadership crises and factional disputes. Additionally, Atiku recently hired a Washington-based lobbying firm under a $1.2 million contract to boost his reputational standing and shape policy perceptions in the United States.