Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the liberation of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State while questioning the suspicious timing of their rescue. On Saturday, his aide Phrank Shaibu highlighted that the hostages were freed exactly when the All Progressives Congress began its 2027 re-election outreach.
Although Atiku commended the Nigerian military for their successful operation, he censured the administration of President Bola Tinubu for focusing on political activities while young citizens were held by captors. He argued that the government should have prioritized citizen safety over electoral ambitions.
Atiku emphasized that the primary duty of any government is securing its people, suggesting that national security should take precedence over political maneuvering. He urged the president to embrace the moral weight of his office, noting that leadership requires a visible commitment to the protection of all citizens during times of crisis.