Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised President Bola Tinubu's government for distributing rice to families of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State. The statement, issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, condemned the gesture as a moral failure amid ongoing captivity of pupils and teachers taken during a May 15th, 2026 attack on three schools. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, had visited Oyo State following the abductions and distributed food items, including bags of rice, to parents and families.
Atiku described the government's response as cruel and inadequate, stating that families want action, not palliatives. "Parents whose children have been torn from their arms are not asking for rice," he said. "Mothers who do not know whether their children are hungry, sick, traumatised, or even alive are not demanding palliatives." He stressed that what families need is leadership, rescue operations, and justice for the perpetrators.
He called the rice distribution "a tragic confession of failure" by an administration that appears overwhelmed by its constitutional duties. Atiku demanded the immediate and safe return of all abducted pupils and teachers, the arrest of their captors, and the securing of schools across the country. "Bring the children home. Bring their teachers home. Arrest their captors. Secure our schools. Restore confidence in the ability of the state to protect its citizens. Anything less is unacceptable," he said.
On the same day, DAILY POST reported that the sister and children of former minister of power Adebayo Adelabu were abducted in Ibadan, Oyo State. Gunmen had earlier attacked the immigration office in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Kidnappings have increased in Oyo State in recent months under Governor Seyi Makinde's administration.
Atiku condemns a government sending rice while children remain in bandits' hands, yet offers no plan for rescue or security reform. His criticism exposes political theatre on both sides — one substituting food for action, the other words for solutions. Parents in Ibadan and Ogbomoso need rescues, not rhetoric from candidates or chiefs of staff. Adebayo Adelabu's family is now among the captives, making this personal for a former minister with no special protection.
⚖️ NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
