Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has decried Tinubu administration’s “shocking insensitivity” to the plight of abducted pupils, teachers, their families, noting that many of the activities that have drawn public outrage were personally led by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the Waziri of Adamawa questioned the propriety of the first family holding political gatherings while kidnap victims remain in captivity.
He pointed out that nearly three weeks after schoolchildren and their teachers were abducted in Oyo State on May 15, 2026, Nigerians are still awaiting their safe return, while the Federal Government appears more preoccupied with political activities than with the anguish of desperate families whose loved ones remain in captivity.
The statement came days after Oluremi Tinubu inaugurated the Tinubu Torchbearers (TTB), a pro-Tinubu support group, at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja and announced the donation of vehicles to All Progressives Congress (APC) women leaders in five opposition-controlled states.
“The First Lady is often serenaded by supporters with the popular Niger Delta refrain, ‘Na our mama be this o,’ and frequently presented as the mother of the nation. However, he said Nigerians are entitled to ask a painful question: what kind of mother can comfortably sleep, dance, celebrate political victories, receive campaign groups, and distribute luxury vehicles while toddlers, schoolchildren, and their teachers remain in captivity?
“A true mother does not celebrate while her children are missing. A true mother does not preside over political festivities while families are trapped in agony, praying daily for the safe return of their loved ones.
“A true mother would use every platform available to keep the plight of those children at the forefront of national consciousness until they are safely reunited with their families,” Atiku said.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said it is difficult to understand how a government that claims to care for its citizens could continue to project an atmosphere of celebration while innocent children and their teachers remain at the mercy of kidnappers.
According to him, leadership is not merely about occupying office; it is about demonstrating empathy when citizens are in distress.
He also criticised the extravagant displays of power, including highly publicised convoys and political engagements, at a time when millions of citizens are battling economic hardship, insecurity, and uncertainty.
He stressed that public office holders must understand that symbolism matters, particularly during moments of national tragedy.
“When children are missing, the nation expects urgency. When teachers are abducted, the nation expects compassion. What Nigerians do not expect is political pageantry. They do not expect campaign songs. They do not expect celebrations. They certainly do not expect luxury gifts being handed out to political loyalists while families are living through one of the darkest moments of their lives,” he said.
Atiku lamented that under the Tinubu administration, mass kidnappings appear to have become so frequent that government officials no longer respond with the sense of urgency such tragedies demand.
He warned that when leaders become comfortable with recurring acts of terror, they inadvertently embolden criminals and deepen public despair.
The former Vice President called on the Federal Government to immediately deploy every available security and intelligence resource towards securing the safe release of the abducted pupils and teachers. He also tasked the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted as a deterrent to others.
He emphasised that history will not remember how many political meetings were held, how many support groups were entertained, or how many vehicles were distributed. Rather, it will remember whether those entrusted with leadership rose to the occasion when innocent children were taken from their families and a grieving nation cried out for compassion, urgency, and action.
