Oyo School Rescue: Atiku Fires Back at Presidency Over Silence Claim, Accuses Tinubu of Playing Politics

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims by the Presidency that he remained silent following the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency either failed to verify publicly available facts or deliberately ignored his earlier statement because it challenged the government’s priorities.

According to the former vice president, he had already issued a statement welcoming the rescue of the victims and commending the security agencies for their professionalism and sacrifice.

“It is astonishing that a Presidency with limitless public resources could accuse someone of silence without carrying out the most basic verification,” Atiku said.

His response followed comments by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who accused Atiku of failing to acknowledge the successful rescue nearly 18 hours after it was announced.

Onanuga had contrasted Atiku’s alleged silence with the reaction of Peter Obi, who publicly welcomed the development.

However, Atiku insisted that his earlier statement, titled A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief, clearly celebrated the rescue while praising the security personnel involved in the operation.

He said the Presidency’s allegation collapsed under the weight of documentary evidence, adding that he deliberately withheld commendation for President Bola Tinubu because the President was engaged in political activities instead of publicly leading the nation during what he described as a defining security moment.

According to Atiku, Nigerians are still waiting for the rescue of other abducted citizens, particularly children held captive in Borno State and other parts of the country.

He urged the Federal Government to concentrate on addressing the country’s security challenges rather than manufacturing controversies around opposition statements.

The former vice president also reiterated his earlier position that Nigeria needs a “Commander-in-Chief, not a Campaigner-in-Chief,” arguing that the rescue operation should have been followed by a national address from the President and security chiefs.

The 46 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15 regained their freedom on Friday after spending 57 days in captivity.