ABUJA, Nigeria — The former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and their teachers on Friday brings immense relief to the nation, while simultaneously expressing deep concern over what he characterized as a calculated political undertone surrounding the timing of the rescue.
In a public statement issued on Saturday through his media spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku remarked that it was particularly striking and shocking that the captives regained their freedom on the exact same day the national leadership of the president’s All Progressives Congress officially launched its nationwide door-to-door campaign for the 2027 presidential election. While the opposition leader praised the Nigerian military for their gallantry during the rescue operation, he sharply criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the executive branch has become entirely consumed by the politics of re-election while young students languish in the custody of violent kidnappers for weeks on end.
Atiku maintained that a responsible administration should have prioritized the safe return of the schoolchildren well before mobilizing political apparatuses for the 2027 polls. He noted that the successful rescue of innocent students from terrorists is a testament to the bravery of frontline troops and serves as a vital source of hope for anxious Nigerian families who deserve the utmost transparency from their leaders.
The former Vice President argued that no serious government should find itself preoccupied with campaign strategies while national security remains deeply compromised. He asserted that the primary campaign of any responsible government must always be the physical safety of its citizens, the restoration of regional security, and the reassurance of grieving households. He added that political ambitions can wait, whereas the vulnerable lives of innocent children cannot, suggesting that the administration should have dedicated its full energy to the military war room rather than a political campaign room. He concluded by reminding the presidency that the title of Commander-in-Chief carries a profound moral responsibility that must be visibly felt and heard by citizens and adversaries alike.
