The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has berated the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, over what he described as shocking insensitivity to the plight of victims in Oyo State.
He wondered about the reason for political celebrations while victims remain in captivity.
Naijaonpoint reports that Atiku’s statement comes days after the First Lady 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 APC women leaders in five opposition-controlled states.
Speaking via a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President expressed particular disappointment that many of the activities drawing public criticism were personally anchored by the First Lady.
He said, “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?”
Atiku stated, “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 that nearly three weeks after schoolchildren and teachers were abducted in Oyo State on May 15, 2026, Nigerians were still waiting for their safe return while the Federal Government appeared “more preoccupied with political activities than with the anguish of desperate families whose loved ones remain in captivity.”
He condemned what he described as the shocking insensitivity of the Tinubu administration to the plight of the abducted pupils, teachers, their traumatised families, and indeed the entire nation.
According to Atiku, “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.”
He added that “leadership is not merely about occupying office; it is about demonstrating empathy when citizens are in distress.”
The former Vice President noted that while parents of the abducted children have endured sleepless nights since May 15, worrying about the fate of their sons and daughters, Nigerians have instead been confronted with “images of political gatherings, partisan celebrations, campaign-style events, and the distribution of vehicles to political allies.”
