By Peter Omopo
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims by the Presidency that he remained silent following the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, describing the allegation as a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.
In a statement issued on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said the Presidency either failed to verify publicly available information or deliberately ignored his earlier statement acknowledging the rescue.
According to Atiku, it was surprising that the Presidency accused him of remaining silent despite the existence of a public statement in which he welcomed the release of the victims and commended the security agencies involved in the operation.
He maintained that he had congratulated the military and other security personnel for their courage, professionalism and commitment in securing the freedom of the abducted pupils and teachers.
The former Vice President, however, said he deliberately refrained from praising President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the President should have personally addressed Nigerians after the successful operation instead of focusing on partisan political activities.
The reaction followed remarks by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who accused Atiku of failing to acknowledge the rescue nearly 18 hours after the victims regained their freedom. Onanuga had also criticised the former Vice President for previously condemning the Federal Government over the abduction while commending Labour Party leader Peter Obi for reacting to the development.
Atiku insisted that his earlier statement, titled “A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief,” clearly welcomed the rescue operation and praised the security agencies, adding that documentary evidence disproved the Presidency’s allegations.
He further argued that while the rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren brought relief to Nigerians, many other victims remained in captivity across the country, including abducted children in Borno State.
According to him, the Federal Government should focus on rescuing all Nigerians still being held by kidnappers and terrorists rather than engaging in political disputes over opposition statements.
Atiku also urged the Presidency to devote greater attention to addressing the country’s security challenges instead of what he described as attempts to manufacture controversies around opposition comments.
In his earlier statement, the former Vice President had argued that Nigeria required “a Commander-in-Chief, not a Campaigner-in-Chief,” maintaining that national security should take precedence over political activities.
He had also called on the Federal Government to sustain military operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers until every abducted Nigerian regains freedom.
The rescued victims, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers, were kidnapped on May 15 after gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. They were rescued on Friday after spending 57 days in captivity in an operation the Presidency said was carried out without negotiating with the abductors.
