*Accuses Tinubu’s government of misplaced priorities
Former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the government of Bola Tinubu over what he described as inadequate funding of the military, blaming corruption and poor prioritisation for the country’s worsening security situation.
Atiku’s reaction followed a media report indicating that only about seven per cent of the 2025 budgetary allocation for military equipment had been released, a development he described as “a scandalous indictment” of the current government.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the former vice president said the level of disbursement falls far short of what is required to address Nigeria’s complex security challenges, warning that underfunding the military undermines national stability.
“Seven per cent disbursement for equipment is grossly inadequate to deal with the grim realities on the battlefield,” he said. “A poorly equipped army can neither protect itself nor the country it is meant to defend.”
Atiku attributed the development to what he called corruption, incompetence, and lack of sincerity in the handling of security matters by the federal government. He argued that delays and failures in releasing funds have significantly weakened the operational capacity of the armed forces.
According to him, the consequences of such lapses are evident in recent security incidents, including the loss of military personnel in high-profile attacks.
“You cannot separate recent tragic losses within the military from issues of poor funding and mismanagement,” he added.
The ADC stalwart further accused the government of failing to treat security challenges with the urgency they require, alleging that attention has shifted towards political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Non-implementation of budgetary allocations has severe consequences for national security, yet the government appears indifferent, focusing more on politics than on protecting lives,” he said.
He also questioned the administration’s preparedness to seek re-election, arguing that performance in critical areas such as security should be the benchmark for public accountability.
“A government that thrives on propaganda rather than measurable results has no credible basis to seek another term,” Atiku stated, while calling on the administration to take responsibility for what he described as its shortcomings.
He urged the government to prioritise timely and adequate funding of the military, stressing that national security should remain the foremost responsibility of any administration.
