2027: Makinde under fire over Operation Wetie remark
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary Ajibola Basiru yesterday upbraided Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for invoking, at an opposition parties’ meeting in Ibadan, the Operation Wetie saga in the
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All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary Ajibola Basiru yesterday upbraided Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for invoking, at an opposition parties’ meeting in Ibadan, the Operation Wetie saga in the old Western Region in the First Republic.
Basiru branded the governor’s statement inciting and irresponsible.
APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke, chided the governor for a shortfall in historical perception.
More flak also came his way on the social media.
Makinde, host of an opposition parties’ summit themed “That We May Work Together for a United Opposition to Sustain Our Democracy", had said the Operation Wetie started from Ibadan before spreading to other parts of the region at the time.
We tie in Yoruba means soak him up; a reference to the act of dousing perceived political enemies or their property with petrol and setting them ablaze to protest the massive political manipulation and election rigging by the government of the day from the early part of the 1960s to the end of civil rule in 1966.
The governor, in his address of welcome at the summit, had alleged a plan to consolidate legislative control under one party.
He said “Those that are carrying on as if there’s no tomorrow… should remember that Operation Wetie started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West.”
Responding to Makinde’s statement, Basiru said the governor was only mixing up issues.
He said: “It is irresponsible for a governor to make inciting statements without context.
Operation Wetie was a reaction to widespread manipulation. Today, the opposition is simply belly-aching because the APC is organised while they are in streams.
He asked well-meaning Nigerians to condemn Makinde for his tendency for violence.
The governor, he added, should "hide his political frustration under the banner of civility."
Dr. Kekemeke said Makinde’s statement at this point in time seemed to suggest that the coming elections would be sorted out on the altar of bloodshed and mayhem.
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The APC chieftain insisted that contrary to the governor’s insinuations, the federal administration does not subscribe to the emasculation of opposition, because democracy is incomplete without dissenting voices.
However, he said APC, which welcomes constructive criticisms against the Federal Government, would also rightly object to cheap blackmail, prevarication and outright falsehood that one party system is being foisted on the country by the ruling party.
Kekemeke, a lawyer, said it is a figment of hyperactive imagination for any member of the opposition to insinuate one party state in a country where over 20 political parties are on the register of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He explained that while those in power today were once in the opposition, the wisdom that permitted them to navigate the difficult and challenging path to power is grossly lacking in the current opposition arrowheads.
He said there is nothing in the antecedents of President Tinubu to suggest intolerance towards opposition.
He recalled that during the Fourth Republic, the President was widely regarded as opposition leader.
Kekemeke decried the faulty strategy, lack of focus and laziness on the part of the opposition figures, saying that they are attributing their woes to the ruling party instead of putting their house in order.
He said APC would win in the Southwest and other parts of the country because it has an impressive scorecard, pointing out that the mobilisation for victory has started.
Kekemeke said: "The reference to wetie by the governor of Oyo State constitutes a threat, a sort of incitement and a sign of desperation on the part of those who are becoming partyless. They are whipping up emotions and sentiments because they face a perilous future.
"Our party is a progressive party that has its taproots in the nooks and crannies of the Southwest.
“Our party is not a hurriedly borrowed platform by opposition leaders who lack clarity of thought and visible direction.
"Those inadvertently threatening wetie or violence should redirect their energies to constructive criticisms and mobilisation of their parties and supporters ahead of proposed historic contests in 2027 instead of complaining about the imaginary rigging of elections that are yet to be conducted.
"The allegation of plunging Nigeria into a one-party state is unfounded, malicious and devoid of reason.
“No basis can be found for it in law, history and logic. The 1999 Constitution is clear on the freedom of association and assembly.
"Is the APC or Federal Government responsible for the inability of opposition leaders to resolve their intra-party leadership crises?
“Is APC responsible for the violation of court orders by the PDP?
“Is APC responsible for the act of borrowing a political party by the opposition gang that backfired?
"Even last year, INEC registered two new parties. In a country of 21 parties, how can the allegation of one party system be proven?
"APC is enlarging its coast and the opposition is shrinking and in disarray.
“The difference is clear: it is the leadership, the vision, focus and performance.
“Opposition lacks all of the above."
On the resolution of the Ibadan summit that the opposition would filed a single presidential candidate in the 2027 election, Senator Basiru said those who brought up the idea were embarking on an impossible task.
He called them disgruntled politicians.
He said:"The so-called Ibadan summit is a ruse.
"It was an assemblage of individuals, not 10 political parties.
“For parties to meet there must be prior authorization from their National Working Committees (NWC) or National Executive Committees (NEC).
“Without that, you just have a room full of disgruntled politicians.
"The Turaki leadership of the PDP is still being questioned; the case is in the Supreme Court.
“The same applies to others like David Mark. On whose authority were they meeting?"
He wondered how the same people who claimed that Nigeria was sliding into a one-party state under the APC succeeded in gathering the different parties that participated in the Ibadan summit.
"If they claim that 10 political parties met today (yesterday), then their claim that Nigeria is becoming a one-party state is mutually contradictory. They are saying ten parties want to gang up against one.
“That ganging up clearly nullifies the allegation. It is an admission that the field is wide open, yet they feel too weak to walk it alone."
He said the opposition gang up was doomed to fail sooner than later.
"I can assure Nigerians that they will not be able to come up with any resolution. In the coming days and weeks, they will start to fight over their personal, inordinate ambitions."
Besides, Basiru argued that the law of the land recognises registered parties; not gang-ups.
"This is an admission of weakness. They know none of them is strong enough to confront the APC alone," he said.
Opposition coalition doomed to fail, says presidential aide
In a separate reaction, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, dismissed the planned presentation of a common presidential candidate by the opposition as a failure waiting to happen.
He said the coalition comprising elements of the ADC and a faction of the PDP and other groups, is fundamentally weak, divided and their plot inconsequential.
“The ground upon which the opposition operates is akin to the biblical sinking ground. So, whether they field multiple presidential candidates or a single one, it matters little. It will end in electoral failure,” Dare told The Nation.
The presidential spokesman described the Ibadan summit as “the end game of an opposition riddled with fragmentation and soaked in opportunism.”
Dare maintained that in contrast, President Tinubu enjoys a strong footing anchored on what he described as a solid record of governance over the past three years.
According to him, the administration's economic reforms and policy direction have placed the country on a path of recovery and resilience, boosting public confidence ahead of the next electoral cycle.
“President Tinubu stands on solid ground; a resounding three-year performance that has set Nigeria on the course of recovery and a resilient economy,” Dare said.
He expressed confidence that the President would secure a second term in office, stressing that his achievements have earned him renewed public support.
“President Tinubu will secure a second term because he has earned it,” he added.
Some citizens also criticised Makinde for his Operation Wetie remark.
Tegbe Julius Ade said: “We expect him (Makinde) in the forefront to lead the troops”
Awopetu Idowu : ”Never expected to hear this from him. Na waoooo”
Funsho Rufus: “Pls, ask him how old he was during Operation Wetie”
Oladiran Brown Adenola: “Hmm. I think GSM (Gov Seyi Makinde) needs prayers this time around. Something else is setting in.”
Our plan to field common presidential candidate, by opposition group
In a communique at the end of the Ibadan summit yesterday, the opposition said they had agreed to field a common presidential candidate in next year's election.
The plan, which they claimed has the support of all participating opposition parties in the country, is to “rescue our nation and her long suffering masses.”
They also vowed to resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party state on Nigeria and fight for the survival of multi-party democracy in our country.
They accused the APC of embarking on onslaughts and manoeuvrings to impose President Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in 2027.
The parties called on the National Assembly to immediately review the Electoral Act, 2026 with a view to removing all sections threatening the sanctity and integrity of the 2027 elections and run counter to constitutional provisions.
Additionally, they called on the ruling APC to release all leading politicians that are being detained or harassed on bailable offences with immediate effect and be allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of participation and inclusivity as Nigerians.
The opposition parties said they considered the recent guidelines released by the INEC as obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on the opposition parties.
Besides, they asked he electoral umpire to extend the deadline for primaries to the end of July, 2026.
Participants at the summit included former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar, Senator David Mark, Mr. Peter Obi, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Others there were Prof Jerry Gana, Prof Pat Utomi, Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Ameachi, Dr Kashim Ibrahim, Abdulfatai Ahmed, Babangida Aliyu, among others.
Some of the opposition parties represented were Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Labour Party (LP), Accord Party, NDC, APP, and APM.
Others are AA, DLA, YP, ADP and ZLP.
