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By Oscar Okhifo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to Nyesom Wike on Sunday berated Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his “Operation Wetie” remark, demanding a probe, even as a rival PDP bloc defended the comment as a historical caution.
Makinde made the remark on Saturday at an opposition summit in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he referenced the “Wetie” episode, a dark period of political violence in Nigeria’s First Republic.
Reacting, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the governor’s comment as “reckless, condemnable and inciting,” warning that it poses “a clear and present threat to peace and national security.”
Also, the Wike-backed PDP faction, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, urged security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the remark and invite Makinde for questioning.
The faction expressed concern over the reference to “Wetie,” noting that the term is historically linked to a period of grave political violence.
The party said it strongly condemns “this disgraceful statement”, and emphatically reiterates that violence has absolutely no place in our political space today.
“Nigeria must come first, before politics and before personal ambitions. Without a peaceful and stable nation, no political system or democratic process can thrive.
“We further urge security and law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties with diligence and professionalism by reviewing the circumstances surrounding these reports and ensuring that all relevant individuals are available to respond to lawful inquiries, no matter how highly placed.”
In the same vein, Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Germany, also faulted the remarks from the Ibadan summit, warning of their dangerous implications.
He reminded the convener of the summit that similar statements in the past had plunged the country into widespread bloodletting across regions, stressing that such rhetoric must be avoided.
Fani-Kayode added that those responsible for actions capable of undermining national peace “will have their day with justice.”
However, a rival PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki rose in defence of Makinde, insisting that his comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
In a statement today, Sunday, by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the faction argued that the governor merely drew from history to caution the Federal Government and political actors against actions that could trigger unrest.
According to the group, “the use of history in the way and manner done by Governor Makinde in the said speech served as a caution and advisory to the Federal Government, the APC, and other national institutions, of the unmitigated crisis that their actions and inactions can result in. Only a guilty aggressor can interpret it to mean a threat or call to violence.
“It is common knowledge that those who do not learn from history are doomed by it.”
The faction accused the APC of reacting with undue panic, stating that it was acting “with the panic of an animal cornered by its own misdeeds.”
It further blamed the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC for rising political tensions, alleging that recent developments mirror the circumstances that led to the “Wetie” crisis.
The Turaki-led group maintained that Makinde’s remarks were a “sobering reminder” of the consequences of political intolerance and poor governance, warning that suppressing opposition voices could deepen democratic instability.
It also accused the APC of hypocrisy, recalling that while in opposition, the party “openly promised to make the country ungovernable,” and therefore lacks the moral authority to criticise a historical reference.
The faction warned that the responsibility for any violence in the build-up to or immediately after the 2027 elections lies squarely at the doors of the Federal Government, the APC, and key national institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if they fail to uphold democratic principles.