By Chibuzo Ukaibe and James Kwen, Abuja
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, yesterday accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of inciting violence in the country following his remark at the opposition summit at the weekend, when he referenced “Operation Wetie”.
However, the PDP led by Tanimu Turaki swiftly rallied in support of Makinde, dismissing the accusations of inciting violence and adding that the reference was not a call to violence but a cautionary note.
The party stated that the governor’s use of history served as a caution and advisory to the federal government, the APC, and other national institutions on the unmitigated crisis that their actions and inactions could result in.
Makinde, in the course of his speech as host of the Opposition Parties’ Summit in Ibadan, Oyo State, referred to one of Nigeria’s violent political episodes, “Operation Wetie”, while cautioning against moves towards one-party domination.
“Operation Wetie” was a campaign of intense political violence that rocked Nigeria’s Western Region, with its epicentre in Ibadan, in the mid-1960s.
The term, derived from a Yoruba phrase meaning “wet him” or “soak it”, described the practice of dousing political opponents, their homes, and vehicles with petrol before setting them ablaze.
APC Reacts
According to the ruling APC, Makinde, while addressing a summit of opposition political parties in Ibadan on Saturday, invoked the bloody history of “Operation Wetie” to incite Nigerians to violence over what it described as his baseless and senseless allegation of the country’s descent into a one-party state.
The APC, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, yesterday condemned Makinde’s alleged incitement as reckless and a clear and present threat to peace and national security.
“It is particularly disturbing for a sitting governor, who bears constitutional responsibility as the chief security officer of his state, to conjure up one of the darkest episodes of political violence in Nigeria’s history to threaten violence against the people and government of Nigeria,” Morka said.
The APC spokesperson noted that, by his incitement to violence, Makinde had shown himself to be unworthy of the high office of governor that he occupies.
“Makinde’s violent rhetoric cannot be dismissed as mere opposition posturing. His statement risks fuelling anarchy, murderous rage, and widespread lawlessness capable of undermining national stability.
“We therefore call on all relevant security and intelligence agencies to take this unfortunate development seriously and act to safeguard lives and property, and defend Nigeria’s democratic order.
“Makinde must be reminded that constitutional immunity from prosecution is not immunity from accountability for threats or acts against national security.
“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 statement read in part.
The APC vehemently rejected attempts by what it described as confused opposition leaders to frame their internal disarray in alarmist narratives about so-called one-party domination.
The ruling party maintained that opposition parties were victims of self-inflicted injuries arising from anti-democratic practices, poor leadership, internal contradictions, disregard for due process and the rule of law, persistent factionalisation, and the desperate and dissonant presidential ambitions of their leaders.
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