Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has warned President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other political leaders against issuing Children’s Day messages amid insecurity and repeated abductions of schoolchildren across the country.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Mrs Ezekwesili said Nigerian leaders had failed children and should focus on addressing insecurity and improving education and welfare.
Addressing the President, governors, members of the National Assembly and other political office holders, she wrote, “Do not dare open your mouths on May 27 to wish Nigerian children a ‘Happy Children’s Day.’”
She added, “You have no moral standing to wish anything to Nigerian children.”
Ezekwesili cited cases of school abductions in Oyo, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna and Sokoto states, as well as the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
Referring to the recent kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, she said leaders were wishing “Happy Children’s Day” to children “snatched from the southwest in a chilling expansion of a terror that you swore would be confined to the north.”
She also mentioned the abduction of students in Kuriga, Kaduna State and pupils in Sokoto State, saying many children affected by attacks were still missing.
According to her, repeated attacks on schools and rising numbers of out-of-school children showed the failure of leadership.
“You are wishing ‘Happy Children’s Day’ to the around 19 million Nigerian children who do not attend school due to the threat of kidnappings, poverty and cultural factors,” she wrote.
Oby Ezekwesili also criticised government spending priorities, accusing political leaders of neglecting children while enjoying public resources.
She said any Children’s Day statement not addressing insecurity, education and child welfare would amount to “a fresh wound on the badly scarred soul of every Nigerian child.”
The former minister urged the government to provide details on efforts being made to rescue abducted children and improve safety in schools.
“A government that cannot protect its children has forfeited the right to celebrate them,” she stated.
