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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed plans to travel to the United States, where he intends to engage policymakers and institutional stakeholders on the deteriorating security situation, economic pressures and governance challenges in Nigeria.
The visit, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his Media Advisor, Paul Ibe, was aimed at drawing global attention to what Atiku described as a deepening national emergency.
Explaining the reasons behind the trip, the former vice president said that Nigeria is currently facing a “massive internal crisis” that must no longer be trivialized or politicized.
“From widespread violence in the North West and North East, to ongoing bloodshed in the Middle Belt, and the increasing spread of kidnapping and criminality across the country, Atiku warned that the Nigerian state is steadily losing control of its most basic responsibility: the protection of lives and property.
“According to him, the situation has changed from an isolated incident to a pattern of systemic failure. Communities are being invaded, livelihoods are being destroyed, and citizens are being abandoned.
“He argued that any government that cannot guarantee basic security is losing the moral basis of its mandate,” the statement said.
On the economic front, Atiku cited increasing hardship across the country, citing inflationary pressures, a weakening currency and reduced purchasing power as major concerns affecting millions of Nigerians.
“He noted that rising inflation, a weakening currency and falling purchasing power have pushed millions of people into distress, while policy inconsistencies and a lack of strategic direction continue to erode confidence in the economy,” the statement said.
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The former vice president also expressed concern about the health of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, and warned that declining trust in governance, accountability and the electoral process could pose a risk to national cohesion.
“As the country moves toward the next election cycle, he made clear that any attempt to undermine transparency or manipulate election results would have serious consequences for unity and legitimacy,” the statement said.
Responding to potential criticism over the involvement of international actors, Atiku rejected suggestions that such efforts constitute external interference in Nigerian affairs.
“Atiku was unequivocal: telling the truth about Nigeria is not unpatriotic. He rejected the notion that engaging global partners meant inviting foreign interference, and stressed that Nigeria does not live in isolation and cannot pretend that its internal failures have no external impact.
“He argued that the world had seen what happened; the real question was whether Nigeria’s leaders were ready to face it squarely.
“He reiterated that only the Nigerian people will determine Nigeria’s leadership, but stressed that international partners have a legitimate interest in the stability, standards of governance, and health of democracy in a country as important as Nigeria,” the statement said.
In his direct message to the current government, Atiku called on the government to “immediately reset its priorities,” restore public confidence, and present a credible roadmap to address insecurity and economic instability.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant and demand accountability from those in power, stressing that sustainable change must be driven internally.
Describing his country as at a turning point, Atiku said Nigeria needed “courage, honesty and firm leadership” to prevent further decline.
The planned trip comes amid increased political activity ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007, recently left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after years of internal challenges and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of the broader opposition camp.
The ADC itself has faced internal leadership disputes and factional tensions in recent times.
It may be recalled that Atiku recently engaged Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, LC, under a $1.2 million contract aimed at raising his international profile and influencing policy perceptions in the United States.
