Atiku knocks Tinubu as Oyo pupils remain in captivity

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned the response of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

Atiku, who also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the incident, said Nigerians were entitled to demand greater empathy and urgency from government officials while the victims remain in the hands of kidnappers.

The criticism comes nearly three weeks after the pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in Esinele, Oriire Local Government of the Oyo State, amid growing concerns over their safety and efforts to secure their release.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the Tinubu’s administration of appearing more focused on political activities than addressing the plight of the victims and their families.

According to him, it was difficult to reconcile the government’s public engagements and celebratory activities with the anguish being experienced by relatives of the abducted pupils and teachers.

“It is difficult to understand how a government that claims to care for its citizens could continue to project an atmosphere of celebration while innocent children and their teachers remain at the mercy of kidnappers.

“Leadership is not merely about occupying office; it is about demonstrating empathy when citizens are in distress,” the statement read in part.

Atiku reserved some of his strongest criticism for the First Lady, saying Nigerians were entitled to question her response to the plight of the abducted children, given her status as the nation’s foremost mother figure.

He argued that public celebrations and political engagements by government officials sent the wrong message at a time when families of the victims were grappling with anxiety and uncertainty.

“What kind of mother can comfortably sleep, dance, celebrate political victories, receive campaign groups and distribute luxury vehicles while toddlers, schoolchildren and their teachers remain in captivity?

“A true mother does not celebrate while her children are missing. A true mother does not preside over political festivities while families are trapped in agony, praying daily for the safe return of their loved ones.

“A true mother would use every platform available to keep the plight of those children at the forefront of national consciousness until they are safely reunited with their families,” he said.

The former vice president said images of political gatherings and celebrations circulating in the public space had deepened public frustration, particularly among families directly affected by the abduction.

He noted that while parents of the victims had endured weeks of uncertainty, Nigerians had continued to witness campaign-style events and what he described as displays of political pageantry.

Atiku also criticised what he called extravagant displays by public officials at a time many Nigerians were facing economic hardship and worsening insecurity.

“When children are missing, the nation expects urgency. When teachers are abducted, the nation expects compassion. What Nigerians do not expect is political pageantry.

“They do not expect campaign songs. They do not expect celebrations. They certainly do not expect luxury gifts being handed out to political loyalists while families are living through one of the darkest moments of their lives,” he said.

The Turakin Adamawa warned that the increasing frequency of kidnappings across the country risked creating a dangerous sense of normalcy if government responses were not swift and decisive.

According to him, failure to respond effectively to such incidents could embolden criminal groups and further erode public confidence in government institutions.

He called on the Federal Government to deploy all available security and intelligence resources to secure the immediate release of the abducted pupils and teachers and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“Until that happens, every display of political merriment is a painful reminder of a government that appears increasingly disconnected from the suffering of its own people,” Atiku said.

The latest criticism adds to growing political pressure on the Federal Government over persistent security challenges, particularly recurring incidents of mass abductions targeting schools and rural communities across the country.