Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State may have been politically motivated, claiming the orchestrated Oyo abduction was aimed at embarrassing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fayose made the allegation during a televised programme while reacting to the abduction of pupils and teachers by armed gunmen in parts of Oyo State. The incident, which occurred on Friday, drew widespread concern across the country and prompted immediate intervention from the Federal Government. Following reports of the kidnapping, President Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to the affected communities and assured residents that every effort was being made to secure the safe release of the victims.
However, Fayose questioned the handling of the crisis by the administration of Seyi Makinde, arguing that responsibility for local security challenges should first rest with local and state authorities before blame is directed at the Federal Government. According to him, governance operates within a hierarchy that includes local governments and state governments, both of which have constitutional responsibilities and resources dedicated to addressing security issues.
“Let me branch to Oyo State, before you get to the president in the hierarchy of leadership and governance, there is local government, there is state, state has security votes and there are people that are supposed to be working,” Fayose said. The former governor claimed that Governor Makinde did not respond swiftly enough after the abduction and suggested that political activities appeared to take precedence over the emergency.
Fayose specifically referenced the governor’s participation in political nomination activities during the period of the kidnapping. “In Oyo State, I strongly believe though I might be wrong but this sometimes might be orchestrated. The governor of Oyo State had his nomination and that of his candidates in the face of this abduction,” he stated.
The former governor further alleged that no immediate action was taken after the incident and questioned the timing of the governor’s engagement with affected families. “He did not take any action, no steps were taken, it was after those nominations that he went to the families to visit them,” Fayose said.
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the incident raised concerns that the orchestrated Oyo abduction may have been used to create negative public perception against the Federal Government. Fayose maintained that state governments should be held accountable for security failures occurring within their jurisdictions and should not rush to transfer responsibility elsewhere when such incidents occur.
His comments have added a political dimension to discussions surrounding the kidnapping, which has already generated public concern over insecurity and the safety of schoolchildren in Oyo State. As of the time of his remarks, neither Governor Makinde nor the Oyo State Government had publicly responded to Fayose’s allegations regarding the orchestrated Oyo abduction.
The claims are likely to intensify political debate in the state, particularly as security issues continue to feature prominently in national and regional discussions. For now, attention remains focused on efforts to secure the release of the victims and address the circumstances surrounding the orchestrated Oyo abduction allegation raised by Fayose.
