Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, has warned Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors and members of the political class against issuing Children’s Day messages amid worsening insecurity and repeated school abductions in the country.
In an X post on Wednesday, the former minister accused political leaders of abandoning Nigerian children while continuing to issue ceremonial goodwill messages.
“Do not dare open your mouths on May 27 to wish Nigerian children a ‘Happy Children’s Day’,” she wrote.
Ezekwesili said Nigerian leaders lacked the moral right to celebrate children while many remain in captivity or live under fear of violence.
“You have no moral standing to wish anything to Nigerian children,” she said.
The former minister’s outrage comes amid recent kidnappings of pupils and teachers from schools in Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire district of Oyo state.
“You are wishing ‘Happy Children’s Day’ to the 39 students and seven teachers seized only days ago,” she said.
Referencing previous school abductions in Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, and Sokoto, Chibok, Ezekwesili accused the political class of neglecting victims while focusing on luxury and power.
“You have moved on, rebuilt and redecorated Aso Villa, bought opulent cars, and rotated power among yourselves as if those girls never existed,” she said.
Ezekwesili also criticised the government for failing to properly document or address school kidnappings.
She said many abductions never received national attention because Nigerians had “run out of capacity to grieve”.
According to her, international human rights organisations now document cases that the Nigerian government has failed to address.
“You are wishing ‘Happy Children’s Day’ to at least 1,799 students seized in major abductions since Chibok,” she said.
