Atiku Fires Back at Presidency Over Oyo Rescue Silence Claim

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed the Presidency’s claim that he remained silent after the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, saying the accusation was false and ignored facts already in the public domain.

In a statement released on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency either failed to verify the facts before making the allegation or deliberately ignored his earlier statement because it did not suit its narrative.

The response came after the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticised Atiku for allegedly failing to react publicly to the release of the Oriire schoolchildren and their teachers nearly 18 hours after they regained their freedom.

According to Atiku, the allegation was incorrect because he had already issued a detailed statement earlier the same day. He said the statement, titled “A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief”, welcomed the successful rescue, praised the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their efforts, and urged the government to continue working towards the freedom of all Nigerians still being held by kidnappers and terrorists.

His media aide said the earlier statement clearly congratulated the security personnel involved in the operation and acknowledged their service to the country.

Atiku also maintained that while the rescue of the Oyo victims was good news, it should not make Nigerians forget that many other citizens, including schoolchildren and other victims abducted in Borno State and other parts of the country, are still in captivity.

He said the rescue of one group should not be treated as the end of the country’s security problems, adding that every abducted Nigerian deserves to be reunited with family members. He therefore called on the Federal Government to sustain military and security operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers until those still in captivity are freed.

The former vice-president said the contents of his earlier statement prove that the Presidency’s allegation was inaccurate, insisting that he had openly praised the security agencies for their courage, professionalism and sacrifice.

He added that while he commended the troops, he did not believe the President deserved praise because, in his view, the Commander-in-Chief was occupied with political activities instead of personally leading the nation in celebrating the rescue and comforting families whose loved ones are still missing.

Atiku further stated that the successful operation in Oyo does not remove the need for answers about the fate of other abducted Nigerians, especially those still being held in Borno State and other parts of the country.

He argued that a government confident in its performance should respond to public concerns with facts and practical results rather than making claims that can easily be disproved. He added that Nigerians expect the Presidency to focus on securing the release of every citizen still in captivity instead of engaging in disputes with opposition figures.