By Myke Uzendu
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has backed comments by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno on security funding, accusing the Tinubu administration of fiscal mismanagement and holding it responsible for the worsening wave of killings across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the remarks by the All Progressives Congress (APC) senator had reinforced concerns over the Federal Government’s handling of security funding amid the country’s growing insecurity.
According to the former vice president, Senator Monguno’s comments raised serious constitutional and fiscal issues that could explain the persistent security challenges confronting Nigeria.
He said the senator’s observations validated concerns repeatedly raised by the opposition over budget implementation, security funding and fiscal transparency.
“For months, the APC dismissed every concern raised by the opposition about budget implementation, security funding and fiscal opacity as politics. Today, one of its own ranking senators has asked the very questions Nigerians have been asking,” Atiku said.
He alleged that Monguno questioned why duly approved budgets were not being faithfully implemented, why revenues due to the federation were allegedly being retained instead of being distributed in line with constitutional provisions, and why security agencies had reportedly not received capital releases despite the worsening security situation.
Atiku argued that if funds appropriated by law for security operations were not released to the relevant agencies, the Federal Government should be held accountable for the consequences.
“Every massacre should compel Nigerians to ask one simple question: were our security agencies given the resources approved by law to prevent it?” he asked.
The former vice president also claimed that more than 17,000 Nigerians had been killed in violent attacks since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, while thousands of others had been kidnapped by terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups.
He said the casualties represented devastated families and communities rather than mere statistics.
Atiku further criticised President Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, recalling that while in opposition, the President had consistently maintained that the primary responsibility of any government was the protection of lives and property.
