By Onoja Baba
The All Progressives Congress has strongly condemned comments made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accusing him of inciting violence and questioning his fitness to hold public office.
In a statement issued on Sunday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party alleged that Makinde made inflammatory remarks while addressing a summit of opposition political parties in Ibadan a day earlier.
The APC claimed that the governor referenced the historical “Operation Wetie” crisis in a manner capable of provoking unrest, describing the comment as reckless and a threat to national peace and security.
The party expressed concern that a sitting governor, who holds constitutional responsibility as chief security officer of his state, would invoke a violent episode in Nigeria’s political history.
It argued that such rhetoric goes beyond political opposition and could fuel instability, warning that it should not be dismissed as mere posturing.
The APC called on security and intelligence agencies to take the matter seriously in order to safeguard lives and property and to protect the country’s democratic order.
It also stressed that constitutional immunity does not absolve public officials from accountability when their actions or statements threaten national security.
In the same statement, the ruling party dismissed claims by opposition figures that Nigeria is drifting toward a one party state, describing such assertions as baseless and a reflection of internal crises within opposition parties.
The APC attributed the challenges within opposition platforms to poor leadership, internal divisions, disregard for due process and persistent factionalisation.
The party further criticised developments within the People’s Democratic Party, linking its struggles to the conduct of its 2023 presidential primaries involving Atiku Abubakar, while also referencing the political trajectory of Peter Obi in its remarks on opposition instability. It described the broader opposition coalition efforts as ineffective and lacking cohesion.
Reaffirming its position, the APC maintained that Nigeria’s democratic space remains open and competitive, noting the presence of multiple registered political parties participating in the electoral process. It added that opposition parties have failed to present a clear alternative vision for governance, relying instead on what it described as alarmist narratives.
The party reiterated its commitment under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthening democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law and delivering on its governance agenda, while expressing confidence that Nigerians would ultimately judge political actors based on performance and credibility ahead of th
e 2027 general elections.
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