School shutdowns will help terrorists achieve their goal, PDP faction tells FG

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Bola Tinubu of “surrendering to terrorists” following the closure of schools in some states.

On Friday, the federal government ordered the immediate closure of 47 Unity Colleges over the recent abduction of students in Kebbi state and Niger state.

The directive, issued in a circular released on Friday, cited “recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches”.

But in a statement on Sunday, Ini Ememobong, national publicity secretary of the faction, said the Tinubu-led government has failed to provide direction while affected states are taking “disparate measures”.

The party warned that closing schools in affected states would amount to capitulating to terrorists who aim to stop children from accessing formal education.

“We are aware that the closure of schools in these areas is already being implemented by some state governments and is currently being contemplated by the Federal Government,” the statement reads.

“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 PDP urged the federal government to adopt a comprehensive plan to tackle insecurity rather than resorting to a “simplistic approach” designed to “score cheap political points”.

The party said shutting schools would worsen an already dire situation in the north where many out-of-school children reside.

The party said the series of kidnappings within one week reflects the “alarming insecurity that has become the contemporary lived experience and new reality of Nigerians under the APC-led Bola Tinubu government”.

The PDP criticised the president’s “lacklustre and unempathetic” response to the abductions.

“For example, instead of the President visiting Kebbi and Niger States to meet and sympathise with the parents of the children who are in captivity, and to address the security personnel there, he merely directed the Minister of State for Defence to relocate to Kebbi,” the statement reads.

“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 PDP urged the federal government to immediately fund and implement the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools.

The party said the policy, anchored on community intelligence and rapid response, is capable of preventing and mitigating attacks on schools.

The party said insecurity in schools is a major threat to education, especially in the north.

It reminded Tinubu that the security of lives and property is the “primary function” of government.

It said any administration unwilling or unable to execute this duty “must either ask for help or honourably resign”.