Oyo State Inter-Party Advisory Council cautions against bloodshed and electoral brutality

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The Inter-Party Advisory Council in Oyo State has warned politicians and their supporters against actions capable of plunging the state into violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, cautioning against a repeat of the infamous “Operation Wetie” crisis of 1962.

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In a statement signed by its state chairman, Mr Opeyemi Akinade, on Friday, IPAC said Oyo, known as the “Pacesetter State,” must not return to the era of political violence, arson and killings that once ravaged the South-West.

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“We must collectively resolve that the ghost of the 1962 ‘Operation Wetie’ which ravaged Southwestern Nigeria will never be invited back into our streets.

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“The chaos, arson, and loss of lives from that era serve as a grim reminder of what happens when ambition overrides the collective good,” the council stated.

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Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde, while hosting a summit of key opposition figures, referenced the violent political episode in the old Western Region, drawing criticism from the All Progressives Congress, which described the comment as a veiled threat.

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Makinde had referenced the “Operation Wetie” violence that rocked the South-West in the mid-1960s to caution against one-party domination in the country.

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“Operation Wetie” erupted in the old Western Region after the highly disputed 1965 regional elections, which were alleged to have been rigged in favour of the ruling party.

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In the statement, IPAC expressed concern over what it described as the rising temperature of political discourse in the state and urged politicians, aspirants and their supporters to allow peace to reign.

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According to the council, politics should be about “service and sacrifice, not conflict or confrontation,” warning that the quest for power must not become a reason to destroy lives and destabilise the state.

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The body also condemned the growing trend of attacks on elders and traditional institutions, saying dragging monarchs into political disputes was against Yoruba “Omoluabi” values.

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“Our traditional rulers are the custodians of our heritage and the stabilisers of our communities; dragging these institutions into the murky waters of political insults is a recipe for social instability,” the statement added.

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IPAC urged aggrieved aspirants dissatisfied with the internal processes of their political parties to seek alternative platforms rather than resort to violence.

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It noted that Nigeria’s democracy allows freedom of political association, adding that Oyo State has 21 registered political parties available to politicians.

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The council also called on security agencies to remain vigilant and neutral while urging residents not to allow themselves to be used as agents of violence by desperate politicians.

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“Let us compete with ideas, not weapons. Let us engage in debates, not diatribes,” the statement added.

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