Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barrister Femi Falana, has asked President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, against making statements he described as capable of inciting residents of Oyo State over the recent school kidnapping incident.
Falana made the call on Monday during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye, Channels Television’s political correspondent and editor, on the station’s flagship programme.
According to Falana, some of the public remarks credited to Wike and Fayose on the Oyo security situation were “unhelpful and inflammatory,” and risk escalating tension at a time when calm and coordination are needed.
“The President should warn Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose to stop inciting the people of Oyo State over the school kidnapping,” Falana said during the interview. “This is not the time for political point-scoring. Lives are at stake.”
The senior advocate also addressed comments made by Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, regarding insecurity in the state.
Falana advised Igboho to approach the police with credible information on suspects rather than “politicizing insecurity in Oyo State.”
“If Sunday Igboho has information about those behind the kidnappings, the lawful thing to do is to go to the police and report who he suspects,” Falana stated. “Security matters should not be turned into political theatre.”
He stressed that while citizens have a right to express concern over insecurity, public figures carry a greater responsibility to avoid rhetoric that could worsen communal anxiety or trigger reprisals.
“All stakeholders must de-escalate. The focus should be on rescuing the victims and supporting security agencies to do their job,” he added.
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