School Shutdown Signals Defeatism in War Against Terror, Says ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to close schools in response to recent security breaches, describing the move as a troubling indication that the nation is ceding ground to terrorists.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he warned that the suspension of academic activities amounts to a surrender to bandits and insurgents.

Abdullahi argued that shutting down schools effectively validates extremist ideologies opposed to western education.

“When you close schools because bandits may kidnap pupils, you are admitting that the government can no longer secure its institutions,” he said. “By doing so, you are giving life to Boko Haram’s position that western education is forbidden.”

Expressing disbelief at Nigeria’s inability to secure its 47 unity schools, Abdullahi questioned the government’s crisis management approach.

“Are we saying the Federal Government lacks the capacity to protect 47 schools?” he queried. “If security will eventually be deployed before reopening them, why wasn’t this done earlier? Government panicked and opted for the easiest escape route.”

The ADC spokesman also accused the government of failing to provide transparent accounts of recent kidnap releases.

According to him, official narratives suggesting that abductors surrendered willingly or responded to “courteous appeals” are insulting to Nigerians’ intelligence.

“For you to say kidnappers released captives because security agencies asked politely is simply dishonest,” he said. “If you could speak with them, then you knew their location. Why were they not apprehended?”

He warned that dealing with criminal groups only emboldens them and expands the “banditry economy,” noting that additional abductions occurred barely a day after the release of victims in Kaduna.

Abdullahi acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency but insisted the move was long overdue.

“This is what should have been done two years ago. Why did it take a comment from former U.S. President Donald Trump before action was taken?”

He also questioned the seriousness of the government’s directive to withdraw police personnel from VIP escorts.

“I still saw VIP convoys with police today. So is the order operational? Or is it just for show?”

Commenting on the spate of coups in West Africa, the ADC spokesman urged the government to rebuild public confidence in democracy, warning that younger Nigerians with no memory of military rule may become susceptible to misguided nostalgia.

He cautioned against attempts to weaken opposition parties, describing such actions as dangerous for democratic sustainability.

“If government destroys all opposition and leaves only itself standing, it is acting like enemies of democracy,” he said.