Uncategorized
Operation Wetie: Gov. Makinde’s Dangerous Rhetorics.
By: Inuwa Bwala.
I cannot still fathom what he means, but one thing is clear that, invoking the spirit of any form of violence, under whatever circumstances, is unstatesmanly and most uncharitable.
What people should always bear in mind, is the fact that, it takes a little issue to spark a larger crisis.
One can ignite crisis, but no one knows the dimenssions it could assume, neither can one predict when it will end.
It is with these at the back of my mind that, I think, the remarks credited to Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, in which he tried to invoke the memory of the infamous “operation wetie”, was both dangerous and irresponsible of a leader.
No one wants to remember the horrors of the 1st and 2nd World wars. Neither do Nigerians pretend to cherish the memories of the civil war.
The 1st world war alone cost humanity more than 22 million lives.
And what started the 1st world war was a minor spark: the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Ferdinand Frantz in Sareyevo on June 28th 1914 by a Serb Nationalist.
Closer home, a minor skirmish in Maiduguri, when, the then, Borno state Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff deployed Operatives of Operation Flush,to enforce the use of helmets by Motorcyclists, that ignited the Boko Haram Insurgency.
The crisis has consumed hundreds of lives and dislocated socio-economic lines. It is still ravaging the Nation and there does not appear any solution in sight.
Leadership requires maturity, tactfulness and proportion and not a licence for irresponsible ranting by desperate Politicians.
When Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde talked about “Operation Wetie”: apparently referencing that dark, violent chapter in Nigeria’s political history from the 1960s, people hailed him.
But for those who were witnesses to and know what “Operation Wetie” means, it was indeed a very dangerous rhetoric.
“Wetie” means “wet it” in Yoruba. During the 1965 Western Region elections crisis, describing the practice of dousing political opponents, their homes, properties and vehicles with petrol and setting them ablaze.
It erupted after highly disputed 1965 western region elections, alleged to have been rigged.
The violence was part of the struggle between Chiefs Ladoke Akintola and Obafemi Awolowo.
That crisis gave the region the nickname “Wild Wild West,” as a result of the massive destruction of lives and property, that partly triggered the January 15, 1966 coup: the coup that truncated Nigeria’s First Republic.
Using that era as a rhetoric
during the Ibadan Summit of All Opposition Political Party Leaders, Makinde in my understanding was subtly threatning the ruling party, APC, against perceived moves to foist a one-party political structure on Nigeria.
The governor was essentially saying, history will repeat itself, with Ibadan/Oyo as the epicentre, just like that of that 1960s violence.
But no matter the level of provocation, perceived to have been done to those who gathered in Ibadan, awakening the memories of that wetie era was like scratching an old would.
Except perhaps for Makinde, the people of the south west have never seen it as a pride, that the crisis in the region during that regency, led to them being labbeled as the wild-wild west.
If the world could go to war, over the assasination of one individual, in a third rate country, our leaders should be careful about what they say or do in public.
At the risk of sounding combative, I srate that, neither threats of violence or war, nor invoking the era of operation wetie, could give Governor Makinde what he wants, the best way to go is to call out his fellow travellers to embibe the spirit of tolerance and persuation, the two cardinal principles of democracy.
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani has allegedly ordered the arrest of political activist Zamani Musa, popularly known as Mycah Dangata, following comments in which he urged residents to vote against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources familiar with the matter, Dangata was reportedly arrested after publicly campaigning against the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani. He was also said to have called on Kaduna residents to reject all APC candidates in future elections.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the activist’s arrest followed the circulation of a video he recorded shortly after the APC primaries. In the video, Dangata allegedly declared support for the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and former Senator Danjuma Laah, while advocating for a power shift to Southern Kaduna.
A source claimed that Dangata was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, a security outfit established by the state government in collaboration with the Kaduna State Police Command and other security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and illegal arms trafficking.
“He was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, the state security outfit composed of policemen,” the source alleged.
Another source suggested that Dangata may have drawn the government’s displeasure after comparing Governor Sani unfavourably with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Activist Criticises Governor Sani
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Dangata, speaking in Hausa, criticised Governor Sani’s leadership style and political decisions. He praised El-Rufai, arguing that the former governor adopted a more people-centred approach to governance.
According to Dangata, El-Rufai allowed communities greater freedom in choosing their preferred candidates, whereas he accused the current administration of imposing candidates on local communities.
He further urged residents to unite politically against the APC, stating that those concerned about Kaduna State’s future should work together to defeat the ruling party at all levels of government.
“We should vote out Asiwaju (President Tinubu), vote out Uba Sani, and vote out every candidate presented by the APC,” he said.
Dangata described the alleged imposition of candidates as inconsistent with democratic principles and argued that residents should collectively oppose what he characterised as undemocratic practices.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and security authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations surrounding the activist’s arrest.
By: Fabian Apechihin
Suspected militia members have attacked a community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, killing one person and setting several houses ablaze before fleeing the area.
According to reports, troops operating under Sector 1, in collaboration with personnel of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, responded to a distress call at approximately 8:30 a.m. on June 4 following an attack on residents of Mbasa community in Utange Council Ward.
Security operatives swiftly deployed to the area but found that the assailants had already escaped before their arrival.
A preliminary assessment revealed that one resident lost his life during the attack, while several homes were destroyed by fire allegedly set by the attackers.
During a search of the scene, security personnel recovered two empty 7.62mm special ammunition cartridges, suggesting that firearms were used in carrying out the assault.
The victim’s body was later evacuated by family members for burial in accordance with local customs and traditions.
Military authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the attack. They also confirmed that security presence has been strengthened in the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents of their safety.
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).
The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Taiwo and Omotola ran into trouble when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.
Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti
The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.
Count 2 of the charge reads:
“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADobobEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.
Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC custody.
WHAT PAID LEARNED THE HARD WAY, BENUE’S CONTRACTORS MUST LEARN NOW
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