Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has alleged that the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State was orchestrated by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde as part of an attempt to blackmail President Bola Tinubu.
Fayose made the allegation on Monday while speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where he argued that the President was being unfairly blamed for security challenges that should also concern state governments.
The former governor suggested that the circumstances surrounding the abduction pointed to a deliberate effort to embarrass the federal government and undermine the President.
“This was orchestrated in a way. I’m not saying totally by the government of Oyo State, to blackmail President Tinubu,” Fayose said.
He maintained that the President had remained focused despite growing criticism over insecurity and drew parallels with the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The President has shown focus and I want to say to you, when Jonathan was to leave office, the same way he was blackmailed with insecurity, the same way they went to America and made Obama carry the placard of Chibok girls,” he said.
Drawing a connection between the Jonathan administration and the current government, Fayose argued that security challenges are sometimes exploited for political advantage.
“Let me use this to branch to Oyo State. Before you get to the hierarchy of President, states have security roles. They have people that are supposed to be working, Amotekun, but when you ask governors, they will say they are not chief security officers,” he stated.
Fayose further questioned Governor Makinde’s handling of the abduction, alleging that political activities appeared to take priority while the victims remained in captivity.
“The governor of Oyo State had his nomination in the face of this abduction. He mentioned his candidate in the face of this abduction. He did not take any action. It was after the nominations that he went to visit the families,” he said.
The former governor insisted that while the President remains the nation’s chief executive, state governments also bear responsibility for maintaining security within their jurisdictions and should not shift all blame to the Federal Government whenever security breaches occur.
His comments come amid ongoing national debate over insecurity and the respective roles of federal and state authorities in tackling kidnappings, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.
