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ABUJA – Former vice president and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described the leadership crisis at the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) as further evidence of what he called poor coordination and governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging the president to abandon any plans to seek re-election in 2027.
Atiku, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the lingering uncertainty over the leadership of the agency had damaged Nigeria’s image and raised concerns about the government’s administrative competence.
He questioned how a new head of the agency could be publicly announced while the official said to have been replaced reportedly continued to function in office, remained listed as the agency’s chief executive on its official website, and attended official engagements.
According to Atiku, such developments project Nigeria as a country where official directives are not consistently implemented, a situation he said could undermine investor confidence and the country’s international reputation.
The former vice president also argued that the controversy extended beyond the identities of the officials involved, noting that while the presidency announced appointments to the position of director-general, the law establishing the BCDA provides for an executive secretary as the agency’s chief executive.
He maintained that the discrepancy raised questions about whether the appointment process complied with the agency’s enabling law.
Atiku further linked the BCDA issue to what he described as a pattern of administrative lapses, citing previous controversies involving the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), and policy reversals by the Federal Government.
According to him, the recurring disputes reflect deeper challenges within government, including weak institutional coordination, inadequate legal vetting, poor consultation and disregard for due process.
He argued that a government struggling to manage leadership transitions within its agencies would find it difficult to effectively address broader national challenges such as insecurity, economic recovery and public sector reforms.
The ADC presidential candidate called on the presidency to clarify the legal status of the BCDA leadership and ensure that future appointments strictly comply with the laws establishing government agencies.
Atiku also urged President Tinubu to prioritise governance over politics, saying the administration should focus on addressing the country’s economic and security challenges rather than an early campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
He maintained that Nigeria requires leadership capable of restoring public confidence, strengthening institutions and ensuring accountability in governance.
