Allied People’s Movement (APM) asserts that the outburst by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) including top APC government officials and APC senators following the call by our Presidential Candidate and Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde for international investigation to unravel the truth around the kidnap of schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State, raises suspicion of complicity in very high places.
The APM invites Nigerians to note that only those unquieted by guilt and complicity, for which they are afraid of probe, will become panicky, irrational and desperate to suppress the truth by speaking against genuine efforts to unravel the facts.
This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abubakar Yusuf.
Governor Makinde’s demand for international probe on this act of terrorism against Nigerians did not undermine the sovereignty of our nation as claimed by APC leaders, rather it reinforces our sovereignty in the global arena by strengthening Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners in the fight against terrorism, which is an international crime against humanity.
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 fora 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 other.
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 neighboring countries as political mercenaries in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.
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.
The APM, as the party of Nigerians, stands firmly with our Presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, in his demand for truth in the interest of the security and safety of over 200 million citizens of our country.
The APM again commends our security agencies for their gallantry and display of professionalism in the rescue of the abducted school children and the fight against terrorism in the country generally. Our Party salutes the patriotism of our men and women in uniform and charge them to remain focused in their priceless commitment and dedication to the security of lives and property in our nation.
