The Allied People’s Movement (APM) said the Progressives Congress (APC) attack on Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, for calling for international investigation to the kidnap of schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State, raises suspicion of complicity.
APM in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said only those with guilty conscience are afraid of probe.
The party defended the governor, and said his demand for international probe on act of terrorism against Nigerians did not undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria as claimed by APC leaders.
According to the statement, the demand reinforces the nation’s 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,” APM stated, noting that such call for external intervention is not new in Nigeria’s collaborative synergy with international bodies in the fight against terrorism.
It recalled 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.
APM noted that 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,” the party stated.
It advised that istead of the unwarranted attack on Governor Makinde for seeking the truth, APC leaders, including 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.
APM pledged its support for Governor Makinde in his demand for truth in the interest of the security and safety of over 200 million citizens of our country, and commended security agencies for their 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,” the party added.
