RUN applauds Atiku’s scholarship for teen mining worker, knocks Tinubu govt

The Rise Up Naija (RUN) movement has commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his intervention in the life of Yusuf Aliyu, an articulate teenager who was recently discovered working at a mining site in Niger State.

The group said Atiku’s decision to offer Yusuf a full scholarship demonstrated his commitment to education and reflected the qualities it believes are needed in Nigeria’s next president.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Usman Okai Austin, RUN, a civic support organisation within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), praised Atiku for responding to Yusuf’s situation.

Okai said Atiku did not merely announce the scholarship from afar but invited Yusuf and his parents to his residence in Abuja, describing the gesture as evidence of a “fatherly figure” and a commitment to due diligence.

He added that Atiku is also scheduled to pay a condolence visit to the people and government of Niger State over the incident.

The statement also highlighted Atiku’s call for measures to protect Yusuf and his family, particularly to ensure that the assistance offered to the teenager does not expose them to intimidation or retaliation.

“Atiku’s call for the protection of Yusuf’s life and that of his family shows he cares not just for education, but for the safety of the vulnerable,” the statement quoted Okai as saying.

However, RUN criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over what it described as the government’s failure to identify and prosecute the owners of mining sites where children are allegedly employed.

The group also criticised the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, describing his performance as a failure.

“The government is hiding the identity of the mining site owners. We are witnessing atrocities in the mining sector that require a government truly ready to govern,” Okai said.

He urged the committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the matter to ensure that its work does not become a “mere damage control mechanism” for the administration.

The group further alleged that illegal miners are exploiting poverty and unemployment in the country, which it attributed to what it described as failures of the current APC-led administration.

Okai called on Nigerians to demand a change in leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying an Atiku presidency would prioritise equal opportunities for Nigerians regardless of their social status.

“A lot of atrocities are happening in the mining sector that need a government that is ready for governance to end them,” the statement quoted him as saying.

RUN also urged the investigative committee to remain accountable to Nigerians and ensure that its findings and recommendations address concerns surrounding child labour and activities in the mining sector.