Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed strong support for the recent communique issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (Christian Association of Nigeria) following its 2026 National Church Leaders Summit, aligning with the church body’s concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
Atiku said he shares the sentiments and sympathies of the Christian body under the leadership of Archbishop Daniel Okoh, particularly its call for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s security architecture. He noted that improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, enhanced operational effectiveness, and greater accountability are urgently needed in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and violent crime.
According to him, the unified stance of various Christian blocs—including the Catholic Secretariat, the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, and TEKAN/ECWA—represents a “spiritual wake-up call” to political leaders to address the nation’s insecurity challenges more decisively.
He also commended the declaration of a three-day national mourning period by the church groups, describing it as a moment of reflection for leaders across the country.
Atiku further stated that insecurity in Nigeria cuts across religious and ethnic lines, insisting that the situation reflects what he described as a “deep failure” in governance. He urged the federal government to take the concerns seriously and move beyond rhetoric in addressing the crisis.
He called on other religious groups, including Muslim organizations, to also join in pressing for urgent reforms in national security management.
The former presidential candidate, speaking on behalf of the opposition, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed the call from CAN and take immediate corrective actions in the remaining period of his administration.
