Comrade Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a stark warning that the abrupt withdrawal of security details from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is a direct threat to his life.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Frank condemned the move as a politically motivated act by the Presidency, designed to endanger the leading opposition figure ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The complete withdrawal of all police officers assigned to Atiku is not just unusual; it is deeply troubling and potentially deadly,” Frank declared.
He emphasised that this marks the first time since 2007 that any administration has interfered with Atiku’s security, posing a critical question: “Why now—at a time when insecurity is at its peak? This decision is too strategic to be innocent.”
Frank squarely rejected the government’s explanation of a nationwide VIP security review, labeling it a “diversion.” He asserted, “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.”
Drawing alarming parallels to authoritarian trends across Africa, Frank warned that the tactic of using state apparatus to weaken political rivals is a dangerous precedent. “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 script.”
He further criticized the ethnically skewed composition of Nigeria’s security leadership, suggesting it was a prelude to such targeted actions. “Stacking the security agencies with loyalists from one ethnic bloc wasn’t random. It was preparation. Now we’re seeing why.”
Calling for urgent national and international vigilance, Frank appealed to the U.S., U.K., African Union, and ECOWAS to intervene. “Whenever security is quietly withdrawn in volatile areas, tragedy follows. The same pattern is playing out here,” he cautioned.
Challenging the government to prove its impartiality, Frank dared authorities to apply the same withdrawal to the President’s inner circle. “If it’s really national policy, let the President’s family, cronies, and key appointees lose their escorts as well… But we know this isn’t about policy—it’s about Atiku Abubakar.”
“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,” he concluded.
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