ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The All Progressives Congress, (APC), has launched a scathing attack on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, declaring him unworthy of his office over his reference to “Operation Wetie” at the Ibadan opposition summit, which the ruling party described as a dangerous incitement to violence.
The sharp rebuke followed Makinde’s remarks at the gathering of opposition leaders in Ibadan on Saturday, where he warned against what he termed a creeping consolidation of legislative power under a single political party.
“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 governor said.
“Operation Wetie,” a phrase rooted in Yoruba political history, evokes memories of the violent crisis that engulfed Nigeria’s Western Region in the mid-1960s, particularly after the disputed 1965 elections, when political opponents and their properties were attacked and set ablaze.
Reacting swiftly, the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said it was alarming that a sitting governor and chief security officer would invoke such a volatile historical reference in contemporary political discourse.
In a strongly worded statement issued Sunday, the party warned that Makinde’s comments could trigger “anarchy, murderous rage and widespread lawlessness” if left unchecked.
“By his incitement to violence, Makinde has showed himself to be unworthy of the high office of Governor that he occupies,” the APC said.
The ruling party also called on security and intelligence agencies to take note of the remarks, stressing that constitutional immunity does not excuse public officials from accountability when their statements pose a threat to national security.
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“Makinde must be reminded that constitutional immunity from prosecution is not immunity from accountability for threats or acts against national security,” the statement added.
Dismissing concerns about a potential one-party state, the APC blamed the opposition’s struggles on internal crises, taking a swipe at key figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The party accused both leaders of weakening their respective political platforms instead of presenting a credible alternative to the ruling party.
“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.
Reaffirming its confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections, the party maintained that Nigeria’s democratic space remains open, pledging to intensify mobilisation efforts in support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The exchange marks a fresh escalation in political tensions ahead of the 2027 polls, as rhetoric sharpens between the ruling party and an opposition still grappling with internal divisions and coalition talks.