Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti state governor, has suggested that the Oyo state government may have orchestrated the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State to embarrass President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Fayose said he believed the incident may have been used by political actors in the state to blackmail the president.
On May 15, gunmen attacked schools in Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire LGA of Oyo State and abducted dozens of pupils and teachers.
Fayose, a longtime ally of Tinubu, said the president inherited a difficult situation from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to me, is not a perfect person, but he has given his best,” he said.
“Things were worse at the exit of President Buhari.”
“President Tinubu literally handed over government to himself by taking over from Buhari and managed the damage done to the country by the last administration.”
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT IN CURBING INSECURITY
The former governor said state governments also bear responsibility for security challenges within their territories.
“Before you get to the president in the hierarchy of leadership and governance, there is local government, there is state government,” he said.
“States have security votes, they have people that are supposed to be working, they have Amotekun and all sorts of security structures.”
Fayose criticised the response of the Oyo State government to the abduction, alleging that attention was initially focused on political activities rather than the victims.
“The governor of Oyo state had the nomination of his candidate in the face of this abduction,” he said.
“He did not take any action. No steps were taken.”
“It was after all those nominations that he went to the family to visit them.”
The former governor said he could not rule out political motives behind the incident.
“I have a strong belief, and I may be wrong, that this sometimes can be orchestrated,” he said.
“It is sad.”
“I can sometimes believe that this was orchestrated in a way — I’m not saying totally — by the government of Oyo state to blackmail President Tinubu.”
