Oyo: APC’s Outburst Against Makinde’s UN Call for Probe Suspicious, States APM

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Allied Peoples Movement (APM) said the outburst by leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), including top APC government officials and senators, against the call by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for international investigation to unravel the truth behind the kidnap of schoolchildren and their teachers in the state raised suspicion of complicity in very high places.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, APM urged Nigerians to note that only those unquieted by guilt and complicity, for which they were afraid of probe, would become panicky, irrational and desperate to suppress the truth by speaking against genuine efforts to unravel the facts.

Yusuf said Makinde’s demand for international probe on this act of terrorism against Nigerians did not undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria, as claimed by APC leaders. He said, rather, it reinforced Nigeria’s sovereignty in the global arena by strengthening its collaboration with international partners in the fight against terrorism, an international crime against humanity.

According to APM, “Our presidential candidate was clear and unambiguous in his call for truth when he said, ‘The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions.

“’I therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, call on the appropriate international human rights organisations and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, to closely examine the facts surrounding this abduction and the circumstances of its resolution.

“’Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions; rather, it is intended to reinforce confidence, ensure that the truth is established, and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence, or affiliation, is held accountable.’

“Such call for external intervention is not new in our collaborative synergy with international bodies in the fight against terrorism.

“Nigerians can recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in various international for a, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), called for international collaboration in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, especially in the areas of aid, intelligence gathering, and sharing, among others.”

APM explained, “Particularly, in June 2024 President Tinubu in meeting with officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also called for such collaboration from this foreign crime investigation body.

“Nigerians now wonder why APC leaders, if indeed they have nothing to hide, will suddenly become frenetic, agitated and sleepless because Governor Makinde is demanding for the truth, a demand which is resonating with all Nigerians of good consciences across the country.

“Perhaps APC leaders have something to tell Nigerians regarding their party’s reported connection with bandits. This is especially against the backdrop of earlier confession by a former APC leader that the party’s leaders imported terrorist elements from neighbouring countries as political mercenaries in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.”

The statement said, “Instead of their unwarranted attack on Governor Makinde for seeking the truth, Nigerians expected leaders, like Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to be on the vanguard of the quest for truth.”