Makinde: Security must not be treated as political talking point… it’s a national priority
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), says security should not be reduced to political rhetoric but treated as a national responsibility.
Makinde spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Saturday while delivering his acceptance speech after emerging as the APM’s presidential candidate.
The governor said the recent security situation in Oyo had overshadowed what should have been a celebratory moment, describing it instead as a period of reflection.
On May 15, suspected bandits attacked schools in the Oriire LGA of the state, abducting several pupils, students as well as teachers and a principal. One of the abducted teachers was later executed by the bandits.
“Our nation is hurting. Millions of Nigerians are weighed down by hunger, insecurity, rising transportation costs, and uncertainty about tomorrow,” Makinde said.
Referring to the abduction of schoolchildren and other citizens in the state, Makinde said innocent victims remained in captivity, stressing that governors currently carry responsibility for security without corresponding constitutional authority.
“As governor of Oyo state, I carry the painful burden of being called chief security officer, yet lacking constitutional control over the security agencies needed to fully confront these threats,” he said.
“No governor should be placed in a situation where responsibility is placed on his shoulders, but the necessary authority is withheld.”
Makinde said if elected president, his administration would pursue reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture to give states greater capacity to respond to security challenges.
According to him, decentralisation remains necessary to improve effectiveness in tackling insecurity and responding to crises.
“As president of Nigeria, I will work to reform our national security architecture so that states are no longer left helpless in moments of crisis,” he said.
“The decentralisation that we need for a more effective security will be prioritised. The safety of Nigerians will not be treated as a political talking point. It will be a national duty.”
Makinde also linked insecurity to broader governance concerns, saying Nigerians are increasingly demanding leadership that delivers practical solutions and restores confidence in government.
He said his campaign would focus on competence, solutions and rebuilding belief in the Nigerian dream.
