Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has taken a swipe at the presidency, accusing them of reckless distortion of facts and ignoring his public statement on the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. In a statement issued by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed astonishment at the presidency's claim that he remained silent following the rescue, describing it as a failure to verify basic facts.
Atiku's response comes after criticism from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who faulted Atiku for not publicly reacting to the release of the Oriire pupils and their teachers nearly 18 hours after they regained their freedom. Atiku's statement, titled 'A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief', was issued earlier in the day, where he welcomed the rescue, commended the security agencies, and called for sustained efforts to rescue every Nigerian still in captivity.
The former vice president emphasized that the successful rescue should not distract from the reality that many other Nigerians remain in captivity. He urged the federal government to sustain pressure on terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers until every abducted Nigerian is rescued and every community under siege regains peace and security. Atiku's statement highlights the discrepancy between his public reaction and the presidency's accusation of silence.
He pointed out that his statement praised the security agencies' courage, professionalism, and sacrifice, but criticized the commander-in-chief for remaining publicly preoccupied with partisan political activities instead of leading the nation in celebrating the success of the troops and reassuring families whose loved ones remain in captivity. Atiku argues that the presidency's allegation is entirely false and that the facts now speak for themselves.
In his statement, Atiku also raised fundamental questions about the government's focus, suggesting that the presidency should be preoccupied with rescuing every citizen still in captivity rather than monitoring and misrepresenting the opposition. This exchange highlights the political tensions and differing perspectives on the government's response to the rescue operation and its broader implications for national security and governance.
