Fayose claims Oyo kidnapping was staged by Makinde's administration to discredit Tinubu.

Ayodele Fayose, the former Governor of Ekiti State, has made a startling claim that the Oyo State Government was behind the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the state, allegedly as a ploy to embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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This allegation was made by Fayose during a televised programme, where he also questioned the Oyo State Government's response to the incident, suggesting that political considerations may have played a role in its handling.

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The abduction in question occurred on a Friday, when gunmen kidnapped pupils and teachers in some local government areas of Oyo State, prompting a nationwide outcry and a response from the Federal Government.

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In the aftermath of the abduction, President Tinubu sent a high-powered delegation to the affected communities and assured residents that efforts were underway to secure the release of the victims.

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Fayose argued that state governments bear primary responsibility for addressing local security challenges and should not immediately shift attention to the Federal Government, emphasizing the importance of local governance in security matters.

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He stated, "Let me branch to Oyo State, before you get to the president in the hierarchy of leadership and governance, there is local government, there is state, state has security votes and there are people that are supposed to be working," highlighting the role of state governments in maintaining security.

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Fayose claimed that Governor Seyi Makinde failed to respond promptly to the incident, alleging that the governor prioritised political activities over addressing the crisis, and that the governor's actions were suspect.

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He said, "In Oyo State, I strongly believe though I might be wrong but this sometimes might be orchestrated, the governor of Oyo State had his nomination and that of his candidates in the face of this abduction," implying that the abduction may have been deliberately arranged.

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Fayose further alleged that Governor Makinde did not take any action until after his nomination, saying "He did not take any action, no steps were taken, it was after those nominations that he went to the families to visit them."

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The former governor reiterated his claim that the incident may have been deliberately arranged to cast the Federal Government in a negative light, stating "I sometimes believe that the abduction at Oyo School was orchestrated by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu."

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Neither Governor Makinde nor the Oyo State Government had responded to the allegation at the time of filing this report, leaving the claim unaddressed.

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The abduction continues to generate reactions from political stakeholders and security analysts, with renewed calls for stronger measures to tackle insecurity and protect schools across the country.