The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has criticised Governor Seyi Makinde over his comments on insecurity in the state.
The party said his remarks misrepresented the constitutional responsibilities of state governors
The state APC spokesman, Olawale Sadare, in a statement on Sunday, also rejected Makinde’s remarks that he was constrained in tackling insecurity because all security structures are controlled by the Federal Government.
Sadare described the governor’s comments as “a height of cluelessness, insincerity and criminal ineptitude,” adding that he should not shift responsibility for security challenges in the state.
The party further demanded that Makinde resign from office and allow his deputy to complete the remaining one year of his tenure.
“Parochial leaders like Makinde pose a grave danger to the growth and development of the Nigerian society, and it is important for the electorate to avoid them in future elections,” the statement read.
The Governor had reportedly said during his acceptance speech as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) on Saturday that there was little he could do to rescue schoolchildren and other residents abducted from two remote communities in Oriire Local Government Area, since he does not have absolute control over security agencies.
Makinde had also renewed calls for the creation of state police following the abduction of teachers and students at three schools in the same local government area.
He described the incident as a difficult moment for himself and the state, while urging the Federal Government to empower state Houses of Assembly to facilitate the establishment of state police structures.
However, the APC argued that Makinde swore twice on the nation’s constitution to protect lives and property, and had no complaint about his powers until now. The party accused him of using the security crisis to whip up political sentiments for a presidential ambition it described as “dead on arrival.”
The party noted that previous governors of the state, including Lamidi Adesina, Rashidi Ladoja, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without the security architecture being as threatened as it is today. It recalled that the late Ajimobi established a Security Trust Fund and ensured stakeholder involvement, unlike the current administration.
“Oyo people deserve a team player, sincere and humble person as their governor,” the APC said.
“Since Makinde has failed to demonstrate this in the last seven years, he should just apologise and quit the state. He should resign from office immediately and allow his deputy to complete the last year of his two-term tenure.”
