By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
More condemnation has come for Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde’s call on the United Nations (UN) to beam its independent searchlight on the Oriire kidnap saga as the state branch of opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State flayed him over the call.
Yesterday, the governor, after receiving the kidnapped pupils and teachers, released by the military from the kidnappers’ den, smelt a rat and believing all was not entirely right in the circumstances of the kidnap, urged the UN and international human rights groups to investigate the incident which occurred in Oriire Local Government Area of his state.
The APC described the governor’s stance as “shameful, shocking and unbecoming of a leader.”
Governor Makinde had said, in a broadcast, after receiving the rescued victims in his office in Ibadan, that the circumstances surrounding the incident were sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny, and beckoned on the UN and the international human rights organisations to carry out an investigation.
According to the APC, the governor had, on Friday, said in Bauchi that the attacks on Ahoro Esinele and Yawota, where the pupils and teachers were kidnapped, were carried out by those who were opposed to his presidential ambition in 2027.
In a statement issued on Tuesday (today) and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC described “Makinde’s outburst” as a height of ineptitude, cluelessness and grandstanding, urging the governor to be “circumspect, decorous and statesman-like in his politicking, even as he prepares to leave power in about 10 months’ time.
“Nigeria has been battling with banditry and related crimes in recent times as this could be attributed to a number of factors. But most people are worried that Oyo State has emerged the worst hit in the Southern part of the country since 2019 when Governor Makinde came on board.
“Meanwhile, events in the last two months have provided answers to many questions being raised in that regards. Oyo State has a governor who plays politics with everything, including the welfare and security of the masses.
“Cluelessness is when a governor feels he would only function well as the Chief Security Officer of his state, if he could be handed the power to appoint and control the Inspector-General of Police as well as the Chief of Army Staff and the rest of them.
“It is safe to say that it is on this premise that Governor Makinde has thrown his hat into the ring as a contestant for the presidency, but his laughable ambition cannot see the light of the day, because he lacks the wherewithal to lead a nation like Nigeria.
“But for dirty politicking, naivety and cluelessness, an average elite should know about Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter which shields sovereign states from external interference. And if it becomes a must for Makinde to make such a call, he should be courageous enough to submit himself to investigations over diversion of local government funds, abduction and brutal killings of Igangan residents, N7.7 billion surveillance aircraft deal, fire-fighting truck scam, possession of lethal weapons by Mukaila Auxiliary and others, N50 billion Bodija explosion relief fund, Agbowo Shopping Complex contract, Ibadan Airport and stadium upgrade scam, loan scandals, among others.”
