You might think you've heard the story of the Oyo schoolchildren rescue already. But dig deeper and you'll find a fascinating debate unfolding between the Atiku campaign and the presidency. Here's the thing: the presidency said Atiku remained silent following the rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren. But Atiku's team says that's a complete lie.
In a statement, Atiku's senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the presidency of being reckless and dishonest. According to Shaibu, the presidency claimed Atiku stayed silent on the rescue, which is an obvious fabrication because the former vice president had already issued a comprehensive press statement welcoming the rescue of the children.
Atiku's statement, titled 'A Nation at War Needs a Commander-in-Chief, Not a Campaigner-in-Chief', praised the gallantry of the Armed Forces and other security agencies involved in the rescue. He also commended the successful operation, saying it was a victory for the troops and a source of hope for every Nigerian family. The former vice president urged the federal government to sustain relentless pressure on terrorists until every abducted Nigerian is safely reunited with their family.
But what really sparked this fire was when the presidency's spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, called out Atiku for not publicly celebrating the rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren nearly 18 hours after they were released.
Atiku's response was sharp as he accused the presidency of failing to read his statement. He pointed out that the presidency's claim was either lazy or deliberate, and either way, it was unacceptable. He questioned why a presidency with limitless resources couldn't be bothered to verify the facts before attacking him.
The Atiku campaign sees this as a classic example of the presidency's obsession with politics over people. They argue that Atiku was focused on the bigger picture: the safety and security of all Nigerians, not just the ones in Oyo State.
The story raises some fundamental questions. What happens when a president is more interested in politics than the welfare of his people? How does that impact the country's security situation?
As the debate unfolds, one thing is clear: this is not just about Atiku versus the presidency. It's about the kind of leader Nigerians want and expect to lead their country.
'What we declined to do was to applaud a commander-in-chief who, at a defining moment of national importance, remained publicly preoccupied with partisan political activities instead of personally leading the nation in celebrating the success of our troops and reassuring families whose loved ones remain in captivity,' Atiku wrote in his statement.
Key Facts: • Oyo schoolchildren were kidnapped on July 6, 2026 • They were rescued nearly two weeks later on July 20, 2026 • Atiku welcomed the rescue in a statement on July 20, 2026 • The presidency accused Atiku of staying silent on the rescue • Atiku fired back, accusing the presidency of being dishonest and lazy