Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, has sounded a strong alarm over what he calls a covert plot by the Presidency to put former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in harm’s way ahead of the 2027 elections.
Frank said the complete withdrawal of all police officers assigned to Atiku, despite his constitutional entitlement, is not just unusual but “deeply troubling and potentially deadly.”
In a statement issued Tuesday, the ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East said:
“Not once since 2007 has any government dared to tamper with Atiku’s security, even in the tensest political seasons. Why now—at a time when insecurity is at its peak? This decision is too strategic to be innocent.”
Frank dismissed the government’s explanation that VIP security withdrawals are being carried out nationwide, insisting the directive is targeted and politically motivated.
“This blanket withdrawal narrative is simply a diversion. The real objective is clear: isolate Atiku, expose him, and pave the way for something sinister. They want to pretend it’s policy when it’s actually persecution.”
He warned that the development mirrors a dangerous trend across Africa, where incumbents use state power to weaken or eliminate rivals.
“We’ve seen this movie across the continent—intimidation, arrests, trumped-up charges, and in extreme cases, elimination. What is happening to Atiku fits into this authoritarian script.”
Frank further pointed to the composition of Nigeria’s current security leadership, which he says is heavily skewed toward loyalists of the President.
“Stacking the security agencies with loyalists from one ethnic bloc wasn’t random. It was preparation. Now we’re seeing why.”
He called on Nigerians and the international community—including the U.S., U.K., AU, and ECOWAS—to treat the situation with urgency.
“Nigerians must stay vigilant. The international community must not look away. Whenever security is quietly withdrawn in volatile areas, tragedy follows. The same pattern is playing out here.”
Challenging the government’s justification, Frank said if the directive is truly general, it should also apply to those closest to the President.
“If it’s really national policy, let the President’s family, cronies, and key appointees lose their escorts as well. They are VIPs too. But we know this isn’t about policy—it’s about Atiku Abubakar.”
He warned that Nigeria’s democracy is being pushed toward a dangerous precipice.
“We are nearing a breaking point. Any attack on Atiku—or any major opposition voice—will plunge this country into serious turmoil. The world must act before it is too late.”