“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.”
— John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, 1961
That promise — to fight any foe and bear any burden for liberty — rings hollow in today’s Nigeria. Under the Tinubu-led APC administration, liberty has been traded for fear, and education has been replaced by trauma. The streets are not safe, the highways are death traps, and now, even campuses and law schools are no longer sacred.
Just recently, a harrowing tragedy struck: students of the Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus, were abducted by gunmen — young people who only wanted to serve their country and pursue a legal education. This is not just another headline. It is the story of a failed state.
Atiku’s Legacy: Education First, Always
Before diving into the depths of the current crisis, it’s worth remembering what Atiku Abubakar has always stood for — access to education as a right, not a privilege.
Atiku’s personal journey is deeply tied to education. From a modest background in Jada, Adamawa, he rose through civil service and politics, fueled by the power of learning. He believes in giving that same opportunity to others. And he has done so, tangibly:
- Established the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, a world-class institution providing scholarships to internally displaced students and children affected by Boko Haram.
- Through the Atiku Abubakar Foundation, he has funded scholarships, rebuilt schools, and provided learning materials to underserved communities.
- Advocated for education as the cornerstone of national development during his 2019 and 2023 campaigns, pledging to allocate at least 20% of the national budget to education.
Atiku understands what many in government today do not: a nation that cannot protect its students has no future.
The Tinubu Disaster: Security Unraveling at Every Corner
Under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insecurity has metastasized, and the APC’s inability to guarantee safety has become a national disgrace. Here’s the reality:
- Over 5,000 Nigerians have been killed or abducted since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, according to SBM Intelligence and HumAngle Media.
- The Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) reports that at least 1,400 people were kidnapped in Q1 of 2025 alone.
- Entire local governments remain under the control of bandits in parts of Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, and Borno.
- Educational institutions are now targets, with the Yola Law School abductions following recent kidnappings in Plateau, Benue, and FCT suburbs.
- The Northwest and Northcentral zones are warzones, and the Southeast is marred by constant attacks from unknown gunmen.
Despite repeated promises of reform and security overhaul, Tinubu has failed to reorganize the security architecture, continuing the ineffective and over-centralized command system inherited from his APC predecessor. Even worse, the police are underfunded, the military overstretched, and community policing remains a mere slogan.
What is more terrifying is the silence and helplessness from the presidency in the face of mounting tragedies. No visible rescue effort, no compensation for affected families, no long-term security vision — only press statements and media damage control.
A Law School Shouldn’t Be a Death Trap
The Nigerian Law School represents the pinnacle of academic pursuit for young lawyers. That a student — someone who survived four years of university, passed rigorous exams, and dreams of defending justice — can be kidnapped in the very institution that teaches rule of law is beyond irony. It is betrayal.
What hope is left when future lawyers, doctors, engineers, and leaders are forced to study in fear, travel in fear, and live in silence?
Gen Z is supposed to be coding, creating, building, and leading. But under this government, Gen Z is hiding — from bullets, from poverty, from their own future.
What Atiku Abubakar Will Do Differently
An Atiku-led presidency will treat insecurity as a national emergency, not a political inconvenience. His security blueprint includes:
- Decentralized policing: Community and state police forces empowered to respond locally and swiftly.
- Modern surveillance systems: Use of drones, satellite tracking, and coordinated data systems to prevent and detect threats.
- Military and police reform: Better equipment, intelligence training, and improved welfare for personnel.
- Safe school initiative: Nationwide infrastructure upgrades, security presence in schools, and trauma care for victims.
- Youth involvement in national security: Tech-enabled Gen Z-driven platforms for neighborhood alerts and accountability.
And most importantly, he will never be silent in the face of tragedy. Leadership, to him, means presence, empathy, and decisive action.
A Message to Gen Z: Your Future is Worth Fighting For
To the Gen Z law student in Yola, the undergraduate in Jos, the NYSC member in Kaduna, and the creative in Lekki:
You should not have to choose between your dreams and your safety. You should not have to pray before each trip or live with the fear that your classroom could become a crime scene.
In 2027, we must choose a president who believes your life matters. A president who will oppose every foe — poverty, banditry, failed governance — to ensure your liberty, your education, your success.
That leader is Atiku Abubakar.And like JFK said, we shall fight any foe, not with weapons, but with ballots, with organizing, with unity — until Nigeria is safe, free, and fair for every Gen Z.
#GenZ4Atiku
#SecureOurSchools
#Atiku2027
#BringBackSafety