₦airaland Forum

The former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has noted that the release of Oyo kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers on Friday is a huge relief but expressed concerns over what he described as a political undertone.

In a statement on Saturday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was particularly striking and shocking that the Oyo schoolchildren and teacher regained their freedom on the very day the national leadership of the president’s All Progressives Congress launched its ‘Door-to-Door’ campaign for the 2027 presidential election.

While Atiku hailed the Nigerian military for the rescue, he criticised the Tinubu government, alleging the administration is consumed by the politics of re-election while innocent schoolchildren remained in the custody of kidnappers for weeks.

He said Tinubu’s administration must have rescued schoolchildren first before starting political campaigns for 2027.

“The rescue of innocent schoolchildren from the hands of terrorists is a victory for our gallant troops and a source of hope for every Nigerian family. They deserve the gratitude of the nation.

No serious government should be consumed by the politics of re-election while innocent schoolchildren have remained in the custody of kidnappers for weeks. The first campaign of any responsible administration must be the campaign to rescue its citizens, restore security and reassure anxious families. Politics can wait; the lives of innocent children cannot. Yesterday should have been dedicated to the war room, not the campaign room.”

The commander-in-chief is more than a constitutional title; it is a moral responsibility. In moments of national triumph and national grief, Nigerians expect to see their president embody that office. Leadership is not exercised only behind closed doors; it must also be seen, heard and felt by both the citizens and those who threaten them,” he stated.

lordm:
This what they could think of. So he would have preferred the kids stay in captivity to please himself

Legitiscool:
The person talking of pain above

Is it that una no get shame, tinubu has now become rocket scientist for paying ransom and securing release of those who should never be kidnapped in the first place

seunmsg:
No single kobo was paid. If it was about payment, they would have been released a long time ago. I understand you guys are angry over the succesful and well coordinated rescue effort, but let it sink in now, the era of paying ransom for mass abduction is over. This is the new template going forward. If you kidnap school children, the Tinubu administration will haunt you down no matter how long it takes and you won't get a dime as ransom. Instead, all your family members will also be arrested and persecuted no matter how angryn it makes Atiku and Peter Obi.

seunmsg:
Atiku sounds pain. He can't even help it again. He has to shamelessly made it about politics after Bayo Onanuga called him out. He's very angry over the release of the children and the arrest of the Ansaru terrorists. Kachalla's plan to make the campaign season about the kidnap children has failed woefully.

I declared to run for the presidency at 4 pm, and by 9 am the following morning, children were abducted in Oyo State.

- Governor Seyi Makinde spoke this afternoon during a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed and APM leaders in Bauchi State pic.twitter.com/H71LCjU4iJ

— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) July 10, 2026

seunmsg:
No single kobo was paid. If it was about payment, they would have been released a long time ago. I understand you guys are angry over the succesful and well coordinated rescue effort, but let it sink in now, the era of paying ransom for mass abduction is over. This is the new template going forward. If you kidnap school children, the Tinubu administration will haunt you down no matter how long it takes and you won't get a dime as ransom. Instead, all your family members will also be arrested and persecuted no matter how angryn it makes Atiku and Peter Obi.

Legitiscool:
[s]not a kobo was paid because na you dey tie tinubu razzler abi

Makinde that has paid through his nose knows how much left him na why him no rate tinubu who has consistently been a failure in other kidnaps up north

lamentor78:
Nothing to use to campaign again for opposition

AndroBlaze:
So there plan was never to campaign on what they can do for ORDINARY Nigerians, but to keep on wishing us EVIL upon EVIL so they can ride in based on failures instead of based on solutions and hope abi..... I pray God will let this cycle end one day, I really do

AndroBlaze:
Sigh....even Atiku has joined in the madness, a whole Atiku, a whole former VP!!

If this is the kind of bitter OPPOSITION Nigeria currently parades, an opposition that cannot be happy for ORDINARY Nigerians when there is finally some good news, then we are in for it !!

Only one country is surrounded by HEARTLESS men, left, right and centre.....chaiiii

AMINDA:
Gaslighting? Dead on arrival. Tinubu practically invented this pattern of campaign against Jonathan in 2015. Nigerians are simply asking him to do his primary responsibility of securing lives. There are still women and children under captivity by bandits in several other states as we speak. If anything, the opposition have been mild on Tinubu.

Beautifulday:
Thank God that everyone eyes is getting opened.

AMINDA:
Gaslighting? Dead on arrival. Tinubu practically invented this pattern of campaign against Jonathan in 2015. Nigerians are simply asking him to do his primary responsibility of securing lives. There are still women and children under captivity by bandits in several other states as we speak. If anything, the opposition have been mild on Tinubu.

Sheuns:
ACN started bitter opposition politics.

AndroBlaze:
Even till now, you find it hard, as human being created by God, to condemn wishing us EVIL so you can take over.

Trump lost his first presidency mainly because he handled the Coronavirus terribly. Please show me where any prominent democrat kept wishing more Corona on his people and that Americans should keep dying so they can take back power!

What is difficult in behaving like human beings and HOPING for the best for this nation, why still showing people you are actually the best solution.

Why do you opposition choose to be so unimaginative and lacklustre..... can't you people present us a positive future without actively PRAYING for fire and brimstone to consume us? Must you people be King of the Ashes a la Khalesi in GOT?

jogojogo:
Tinubu's Government has the dullest sets of oppositions in the history of Nigetia.
Congratulations to His excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu