Atiku slams presidency over Oyo school rescue ‘silence’ claim

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims by the Presidency that he failed to acknowledge the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of misrepresenting the facts.

The dispute began after the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticized Atiku for allegedly remaining silent nearly 18 hours after security agencies rescued abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Onanuga argued that while Atiku had been vocal in criticizing the Federal Government during the victims’ 57-day captivity, he did not publicly commend security agencies after the successful rescue. He contrasted Atiku’s response with that of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who had publicly welcomed the development.

However, Atiku, through a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, rejected the allegation, insisting that he had already released a statement celebrating the rescue before the Presidency’s criticism.

According to Atiku, his earlier statement, titled “A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief,” welcomed the safe return of the pupils and teachers and commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for their efforts.

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

“It is either they failed to read our statement because they were too lazy to do so, or they deliberately ignored it because it exposed uncomfortable truths about their misplaced priorities.”

To support his position, Atiku’s media team reproduced portions of the earlier statement, which described the rescue as “a moment of profound relief” while praising the courage and professionalism of the security personnel involved in the operation.

The former vice president, however, maintained his criticism of President Tinubu’s handling of the country’s security challenges, arguing that the success should be credited to frontline troops rather than the political leadership.

He also urged the Federal Government to focus on securing the release of other Nigerians still being held captive, including schoolchildren abducted in Borno State, instead of monitoring opposition statements.

“A government secure in its performance does not invent silence where there was a documented public statement,” Atiku said. “It responds to legitimate concerns with facts and results, not propaganda.”

The exchange comes days after security forces rescued dozens of pupils and teachers who were abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending nearly two months in captivity. The rescue has been widely welcomed across the country, even as political disagreements continue over the government’s handling of the security situation.