- Safiu Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of inciting Nigerians to violence.
This is coming under the heels of the recently concluded national summit organised by opposition.
NPO Reported that the summit which was largely attended by leaders and members of the factional African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party, was held in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Makinde had in his welcome address as the host of the event struck a note of warning against the alleged intimidation of the opposition parties by the APC.
In a bid to reaffirm his warning, the Oyo Governor referenced to the brutal 1964 political violence which started in the Western region and was infamously dubbed Operation Wetie.
Makinde recalled that the harrowing event, which saw several politicians and their properties burnt, started in Ibadan.
“For those that are carrying on as if there’s no tomorrow. They should remember that “Operation Wetie” started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West,” The Oyo Governor said.
Reacting in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC condemned Makinde’s reference to what it described as bloody history.
The ruling party accused the governor of inciting violence, labelling thy.e statement a clear threat to national security.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) categorically condemns Governor Makinde’s incitement as reckless, and a clear and present threat to peace and national security.
“It is particularly disturbing for a sitting Governor who bears constitutional responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of his state to conjure up one of the darkest episodes of political violence in Nigeria’s history to threaten violence against the people and government of Nigeria.
“By his incitement to violence, Makinde has showed himself to be unworthy of the high office of Governor that he occupies.” The statement partly read.
The APC further warned that the Oyo governor’s statement risks fueling anarchy, murderous rage, and widespread lawlessness.
It called for the intervention of relevant security agencies, stressing that the governor’s constitutional immunity from prosecution is not immunity from accountability for threats or acts against national security.
“Makinde’s violent rhetoric cannot be dismissed as mere opposition posturing. His statement risks fueling anarchy, murderous rage and widespread lawlessness capable of undermining national stability.
“We therefore call on all relevant security and intelligence agencies to take this unfortunate development seriously and act to safeguard lives, property, and defend Nigeria’s democratic order.
“Makinde must be reminded that constitutional immunity from prosecution is not immunity from accountability for threats or acts against national security.
“No individual, however highly placed, should have the power to threaten or endanger the lives and safety of Nigerians or upend the country’s hard-won democratic governance under the guise of political commentary.” The APC stated.
While again debunking the opposition leaders’ claim of the APC tilting Nigeria towards a one-party state, the ruling party maintained that the opposition parties are responsible for their internal crises.
The APC alleged that the PDP crisis began with the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2023 Presidential candidate which, according to the statement, violated the PDP’s rotational zoning formula.
It also attributed Labour Pary’s crisis to the alleged instability of its 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
“The APC, again, vehemently rejects attempts by confused opposition leaders to frame their internal shambles in alarmist narratives about so-called one-party domination.
“The opposition parties are victims of self-inflicted injuries arising from anti-democratic practices, miserably poor leadership, internal contradictions, utter disregard for due process and the rule of law, persistent factionalization, and the desperate and dissonant presidential ambitions of their leaders.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was destroyed by Atiku Abubakar’s ruthless confiscation of the PDP’s 2023 presidential ticket in violation of the party’s constitutionally entrenched rotational zoning formula.
“The Labour Party (LP) was effectively subverted by the restless nomadic disposition of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, permanently swinging from one party to another in search of free and uncontested presidential ticket.” The statement read further.
For the ADC, the APC labelled the coalition party as a stillborn, alleging that the party’s leadership were robbed by the coalition opposition figures,
The ruling party expressed confidence in Nigerians ability to recognise the main causes of the opposition parties’ internal crisis while vowing not to yield to what it described as blackmail from the opposition parties.
“At the APC, we are confident that Nigerians are discerning and recognize that a party so grossly unable to manage its own internal affairs cannot be entrusted with the governance of Africa’s most populous and important country.
“These opposition leaders and their coalition of confusion have not put anything forward by way of an alternative vision for Nigeria’s development. All they have in their arsenal is fear mongering built on false narratives about the APC.
“Our great Party rejects the veiled expectation of opposition leaders that the APC would help them manage their internal affairs.
“We bear no such duty and will not provide any such leadership consulting services to them.
“And we will not yield to blackmail to abdicate our duty to our Party to plan, organize and mobilize to compete effectively in the upcoming 2027 general elections.” The statement read further.