Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for allegedly prioritising politics over national security, declaring that Nigeria needs “a Commander-in-Chief, not a Campaigner-in-Chief.”
Atiku made the remarks in a statement dated July 11, 2026, signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, while reacting to the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
While welcoming the successful rescue, the former Vice President commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for what he described as their courage, professionalism and sacrifice in securing the victims’ freedom.
“The rescue of innocent schoolchildren from the hands of terrorists is a victory for our gallant troops and a source of hope for every Nigerian family. They deserve the gratitude of the nation,” Atiku said.
He, however, faulted President Tinubu’s handling of the development, noting that the rescue coincided with the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) door-to-door campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
“No serious government should be consumed by the politics of re-election while innocent schoolchildren have remained in the custody of kidnappers for weeks. The first campaign of any responsible administration must be the campaign to rescue its citizens, restore security and reassure anxious families. Politics can wait; the lives of innocent children cannot,” he stated.
According to Atiku, although the military rose to the occasion, the Presidency failed to demonstrate leadership at a defining national moment.
He argued that President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, should have personally addressed Nigerians alongside the nation’s security chiefs immediately after the rescue operation.
“What Nigerians expected yesterday was to see a Commander-in-Chief leading from the front. Following the successful rescue operation, the President ought to have immediately addressed the nation alongside his defence chiefs to acknowledge the bravery of the troops, reassure anxious families and send a clear message to terrorists that the Nigerian state remains resolute,” he said.
Atiku maintained that such moments were not ordinary public relations events but opportunities to strengthen public confidence, boost military morale and demonstrate national resolve against terrorism.
He said leaving the announcement of the rescue to the President’s spokesman while the President remained engaged in political activities created the impression that politics had taken precedence over the responsibility of securing the country.
“The Commander-in-Chief is more than a constitutional title; it is a moral responsibility. Leadership is not exercised only behind closed doors; it must also be seen, heard and felt by both the citizens and those who threaten them,” he added.
The former Vice President cautioned against treating the successful rescue as the end of the country’s security challenges, noting that many Nigerians, including schoolchildren in Borno State and other parts of the country, remain in captivity.
He urged the federal government to sustain military operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers until every abducted Nigerian is rescued and communities under siege are restored to peace.
Concluding his statement, Atiku said leadership is measured not only by victories recorded on the battlefield but also by the courage displayed by those in authority during defining national moments.
