Former South-East spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, Josef Onoh, has dissociated the President from comments by APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe linking the kidnapping of schoolchildren to efforts to frustrate Tinubu’s chances of securing re-election in 2027.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Onoh said the President does not share the views attributed to Igbokwe and is not engaged in any political calculations involving the security and welfare of Nigerians.

The clarification followed remarks by Igbokwe in a widely circulated publication in which he suggested that the abduction of schoolchildren was being used as a strategy to prevent Tinubu’s return to office in 2027. Igbokwe had described such a move as ineffective and urged state governors to take greater responsibility for security, while characterising kidnapping as a profitable criminal enterprise.

Reacting to the comments, Onoh said the interpretation could create the impression of federal helplessness in addressing insecurity or suggest a shift of responsibility away from the national security framework, positions he said do not reflect the administration’s stance.

According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to a comprehensive security strategy focused on eliminating the root causes of insecurity rather than transferring responsibility for addressing it.

He said the administration has continued to intensify military and intelligence operations targeting banditry, terrorism and kidnapping networks in different parts of the country, while also strengthening coordination among security agencies.

Onoh further highlighted reported rescue operations in states including Kwara and Kebbi, which he said were carried out with presidential oversight and support for security agencies. He also pointed to initiatives such as infrastructure development, youth empowerment programmes and agricultural interventions aimed at reducing conditions that contribute to criminal activities.

He maintained that the government’s objective is to dismantle the structures that sustain kidnapping and other violent crimes rather than accommodate or negotiate with criminal groups.

The former presidential aide described Igbokwe’s remarks as insensitive, particularly to victims of abductions and their families, arguing that framing insecurity through a political lens risks trivialising the suffering of those affected.

He urged political stakeholders to exercise caution in their public comments and avoid statements capable of heightening tensions.

Onoh also noted that insecurity in Nigeria predates the current administration and is linked to longstanding challenges such as porous borders, the proliferation of arms and economic difficulties.

He reiterated that President Tinubu remains focused on improving national security and advancing development, insisting that the administration’s actions and policies provide a clearer reflection of its priorities than individual political commentaries.