Founder of the Oodua People\u2019s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has
\ncalled for the immediate release of his birthday mate, Chief Olu Falae,
\nkidnapped on Monday in Akure, Ondo State.<\/p>\n
Born on September 21 like Falae, a visibly agitated Fasehun, who turned
\nOctogenarian yesterday, said in Lagos yesterday that he had ordered OPC
\noperatives to immediately launch a manhunt, combing all nooks and crannies
\nof Ondo State and beyond, for the kidnapped politician.<\/p>\n
Fasehun described the kidnap as an assault and insult on the Yoruba
\npeople, and challenged security operatives and agencies to produce Falae
\nwithin 48 hours.<\/p>\n
The OPC Founder immediately summoned all members in the country to attend
\nan emergency meeting on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cOPC is not interested in crisis but it was founded primarily for the
\nprotection of its own and for building bridges in Nigeria,\u201d he said. \u201cAll
\nlovers of Nigerian unity like OPC, communal peace and national progress
\nmust rise up to this challenge.<\/p>\n
Warning of possible consequences, Fasehun pointed out that eyewitnesses
\nindicated that Falae had been taken by strangers, just like the wife of
\nthe Sun Newspapers Executive Director, Mrs. Toyin Nwosu, abducted last
\nweek in Lagos.<\/p>\n
His words: \u201cAt my turning 80, the entire world would expect me to be a
\nbridge builder. And I have prepared myself to be just that. But if any
\nmissile is thrown at you, and it is likely to affect your eyeball, you
\nmust avoid it at all costs. This is my view of the insult now being
\nunleashed, being flung at Nigeria by the enemies of Nigeria\u2019s unity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million.
\nRecalling that Falae had rendered \u201cimpeccable\u201d service to the country as
\na Permanent Secretary, then Minister of Finance and Secretary to the
\nFederal Government, Fasehun described the victim\u2019s current ordeal as
\nuncharitable.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u201cWhen we heard that Falae was kidnapped we thought it was impossible, as
\nkidnappers would not be mad enough to kidnap a man of peace, a man who has
\nselflessly served Nigeria,\u201d he said. \u201cFalae is by any standard a leader of
\nthe Yoruba people, a leader of Nigeria and a significant leader in Africa.
\nHe is a leader of Afenifere. He was a leader of NADECO. And any assault on
\nhim is an assault on Nigeria and Nigerians.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also frowned at the fact that 24 hours following the kidnap, the
\nFederal Government was yet to officially react to the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver 24 hours after this disruption of the life of a dignitary,
\ngovernment has not issued any statement; rather what we hear is a loud
\nsilence from the Federal Government. It is a shame; it is a big shame,\u201d
\nFasehun said.<\/p>\n
Recalling that Falae, as the Olu of Oba-Ile, was the ruling monarch of his
\nhomestead, he urged all traditional rulers in Nigeria to also rise up for
\nhis release.<\/p>\n
According to the OPC President, the organisation felt concerned at Falae\u2019s
\nkidnap, which he described as an affront.<\/p>\n
Fasehun feared that the kidnapping of the top-flight politician portended
\nill for his fellows.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe this is a political issue. And any politician in Nigeria must
\nmake sure that Chief Olu Falae is released immediately,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cOtherwise OPC will take any step available to defend its own.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Founder of the Oodua People\u2019s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has called for the immediate release of his birthday mate, Chief Olu Falae, kidnapped on Monday in Akure, Ondo State.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n