Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu over the worsening security situation in the country, describing the administration’s handling of insecurity as a complete failure.
Atiku also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward the immediate rescue of schoolchildren abducted in recent attacks in Oyo and Borno states.
Similarly, presidential hopeful and Accord Party chieftain, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, alleged that Nigeria was gradually slipping back into the “dark days” of the late General Sani Abacha, accusing powerful political actors of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
The latest criticism follows coordinated attacks on schools in Borno and Oyo states, where dozens of students and teachers were abducted by armed groups.
In Borno State, no fewer than 42 schoolchildren were kidnapped on May 15 during attacks on Government Day Secondary School, Mussa Central Primary School, and SUBEB Secondary School in Mussa town, Askira-Uba Local Government Area.
On the same day in Oyo State, over 40 students and teachers were abducted from Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele; Primary School, Esiele; and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.
A mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was later gruesomely beheaded by the attackers.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Atiku expressed deep concern over the increasing wave of insecurity, warning that persistent attacks on schools were threatening Nigeria’s education system and undermining the Safe Schools initiative.
The former vice-president lamented what he described as the government’s inability to stop terrorists from operating freely across the country.
According to him, “President Tinubu has no moral or political latitude to stay in Aso Villa a day longer if tens of hundreds of abducted citizens languish in captivity across the country.”
He questioned the government’s capacity to secure lives and property, asking, “What type of government will allow non-state actors to turn its national territory into killing fields and a haven for kidnapping and extortion?”
Atiku stressed that security should not be reduced to political rhetoric, insisting that citizens expect swift and decisive action against terrorism and banditry.
He warned that prolonged delays in rescuing abducted victims could encourage more attacks on schools and innocent citizens.
“Impunity makes the terrorists bolder and more determined to carry out future attacks,” he stated, adding that government condemnation alone was insufficient without concrete rescue operations.
The Waziri of Adamawa also criticised delays in terrorism-related prosecutions, calling for the establishment of special courts to fast-track trials involving terrorists and bandits.
He further advocated the application of the death penalty for terrorism offences, arguing that convictions would remain ineffective without the political will to enforce punishments.
Meanwhile, Accord Party presidential hopeful Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim accused influential political figures of plotting to cripple opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking ahead of the party’s presidential primary scheduled for May 30, Olawepo-Hashim alleged that internal crises within opposition parties were being deliberately orchestrated to weaken credible challengers to the ruling establishment.
“Nigeria is being dragged back to the Abacha years,” he declared.
He further accused a top Accord Party chieftain of masterminding moves aimed at destabilising the party and preventing it from presenting a viable presidential candidate.
According to him, the situation mirrors the political atmosphere during the Abacha regime, when political parties allegedly operated under a single dominant power structure.
“We are seeing a replay of history, when political parties became tools for a self-succession agenda,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim also linked the alleged plot to influential figures within President Tinubu’s administration, insisting that attempts to dominate the political space through legal and political manoeuvres would ultimately fail.
“This coordinated plot by top officials will fail, just as the Abacha agenda failed,” he added.