Onanuga Fires Back: Oyo Governor’s Call for Foreign Investigation Is “Unnecessary Conspiracy Theory”
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has slammed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his controversial demand for a United Nations investigation into the abduction and rescue of 45 pupils and teachers in Ogbomoso dismissing the move as “bizarre politics” from a man now eyeing the presidency.
Makinde had on Monday called on the UN and international accountability bodies to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the May 15 abduction, arguing that the incident was “sufficiently grave and unusual” to warrant independent scrutiny beyond Nigeria’s domestic institutions.
The victims 39 pupils and six teachers were rescued after 56 harrowing days in captivity, following a month-long military operation that reportedly cost the lives of security personnel, including members of the Amotekun corps.
But Onanuga, in a no-holds-barred response to The Punch, questioned the governor’s rationale, insisting that security agencies had already provided sufficient explanations regarding the operation.
“Will Anyone Deliberately Subject 4-Year-Olds to 56 Days of Trauma?”
The presidential spokesman challenged the logic behind Makinde’s demand, pointing to the tender ages of the abducted children.
“Look at those kids. Some of them are just about four or six years old. Will anyone want to deliberately subject them to the trauma they went through for 56 days?”
He emphasized that the rescue mission came at a steep cost, with military and Amotekun personnel paying the ultimate price to secure the victims’ freedom.
“He Wants to Weaponise Anything” — Onanuga Accuses Governor of Playing Politics
Onanuga didn’t mince words in linking Makinde’s call to his recently declared presidential ambition on the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) platform.
“It is just unfortunate that Mr Makinde, maybe because of politics because he is a presidential candidate now — doesn’t have any trust in our own institutions and is now calling on an external body to come and investigate.”
He described the governor’s stance as:
· “Unwarranted”
· “Absolutely unnecessary”
· “The politics of the bizarre”
“The man is just playing politics. He wants to weaponise anything available, including dredging up a strange conspiracy theory,” Onanuga added.
“Our Doors Are Open” Presidency Challenges UN to Probe If It Must
While dismissing the call, Onanuga struck a defiant tone, saying Nigeria has nothing to hide.
“Our doors are open. Let the UN come if he thinks there is more to it than what our military has explained.”
However, he reiterated that there was no basis for the governor’s demand, urging Makinde to trust Nigeria’s security institutions rather than seeking foreign intervention.
The Abduction That Shook Oyo State
Timeline of events:
· May 15, 2026: Armed men storm three schools in Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities, Oriire LGA, abducting 39 pupils and six teachers
· 56 days in captivity: Victims held under grueling conditions
· July 2026: Military operation secures rescue after month-long offensive
· Cost of rescue: Security personnel, including Amotekun operatives, lost their lives
What’s Really Behind Makinde’s UN Call?
Observers are now questioning whether the governor’s demand stems from genuine concern over security gaps or a calculated political move to position himself as a reformist voice ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
Onanuga’s blistering rebuttal suggests the Presidency views the call as nothing short of a political grenade one aimed at undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s security apparatus for electoral gain.
