Atiku Fires Back at Presidency Over Claims of Silence on Oyo Schoolchildren Rescue
Atiku Fires Back at Presidency Over Claims of Silence on Oyo Schoolchildren Rescue
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims by the Presidency that he remained silent following the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, insisting that he had publicly reacted to the development.
The Presidency had criticised Atiku over what it described as his failure to acknowledge the successful rescue of the victims, prompting a sharp response from the former vice president.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the allegation as a distortion of facts, arguing that publicly available records showed he had already commented on the rescue operation. He said there were only two possible explanations for the Presidency’s criticism: either its media team failed to verify the facts before responding or deliberately ignored his earlier statement.
According to Atiku, his earlier statement not only welcomed the rescue of the Oyo victims but also commended the security agencies involved in the operation. He maintained that he had equally urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of other Nigerians still being held captive by kidnappers and terrorists across the country.
The former vice president further argued that the national conversation should focus on addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges rather than engaging in political exchanges over statements made after the rescue.
Atiku reiterated that while the rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren was commendable, many families across the country were still waiting for the safe return of their loved ones. He called on the Federal Government to strengthen preventive security measures and intensify efforts to rescue all remaining victims of kidnapping and terrorism.
