The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of contemplating a “complete surrender to terrorists” by considering the closure of schools in northern Nigeria following a wave of mass abductions.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party highlighted two recent incidents of kidnapping of 25 students in Kebbi State and 315 students and staff in Niger State within the space of one week.
“Each of these kidnappings leaves a trail of sorrows, tears, blood, fear, and deep anguish on the families of those affected and their communities,” the PDP said, warning that shutting schools would hand terrorists a strategic victory.
“We warn that this closure, if undertaken, like many of this administration’s quick-fix approaches to serious governance issues, will amount to a complete surrender to terrorists, whose sole aim is to shut down schools and prevent children from obtaining formal education, which they declare forbidden. If the schools are closed, the goal of the terrorists would have been inadvertently achieved.”
The party argued that school closures would worsen the already dire education crisis in the north, where UNICEF reports 18.3 million out-of-school children reside – 10.2 million at primary level and 8.1 million at secondary level.
“Rather, we urge the Government to develop a comprehensive plan to combat the issue, instead of resorting to a simplistic approach of closing schools in a bid to prevent further kidnappings and to score cheap political points, quite characteristic of this administration,” the statement continued.
The PDP also criticised President Tinubu’s response as “lacklustre and unempathetic,” noting that instead of personally visiting the affected states, he “merely directed the Minister of State for Defence to relocate to Kebbi.”
“A juxtaposition of the contingents sent to the US Congress and the G-20 meeting with Matawalle’s lone envoy, exposes the levity with which the presidency treats this matter. This reaction is most insensitive and dismissive of the gravity of the problem by the APC-led Federal Government.”
The opposition called for immediate funding and implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, emphasising community intelligence and rapid response capabilities.
Reiterating that securing lives and property is the primary duty of government, the PDP delivered a stark ultimatum: “At any time government is unwilling, unable, or incapable of executing this primary role, such a government must either ask for help (locally or internationally) or honourably resign, if it is sincere and responsible.”
