Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called on government at all levels to team up to confront the present insecurity challenges and rescue the abducted pupils and teachers in Yawota and Ahoro Esinele communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
He made the call while receiving leaders and members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who held a peaceful/solidarity rally to demand the quick and safe release of the abductees.
Makinde And Abduction Of Pupils, Teachers
Governor Makinde noted that the incident was a national distress, warning against attempts to politicise it or trade blames.
He said the challenge was beyond politics, because the perpetrators have demonstrated a complete disregard for humanity, adding that it was time for everyone to work together to surmount the challenge.
The governor appealed to students, workers and teachers across the state to continue to trust the government, assuring that every available resource was being deployed to secure the release of the abducted children and their teachers.
He said: “I have had the opportunity to engage with the leadership of NANS, NUT and NLC. Let me say this clearly, this is a time of national distress. It is not the time to trade blames and to play politics.
“I am personally distressed. My own father was a primary school teacher. He actually taught at Ahoro Dada, which is less than 15 kilometres to where this incident happened.
“My father was there between 1959 and 1960 and if something like this had happened to him, maybe I wouldn’t have even been born.
“So, it is not the time for us to say, ‘It is the president that should have handled this, it is the governor or the local government.’ This is the time to pull together as one.
“We are not dealing with normal human beings. Just think briefly, how will somebody take a fellow human being and slaughter him? Is that somebody that is normal?
“So, these are not normal people. I can only appeal to you, the students, the workers, the teachers, to please have trust in your government. We are doing our best.”
Speaking further, Makinde revealed that both the federal and state governments were collaborating to ensure the successful rescue of the abducted victims.
He further assured the labour leaders, teachers and students that once the abductees have been successfully rescued, his administration will consider suggestions aimed at strengthening the state’s security architecture in the long term.
“I have heard from the Federal Government, and I have been meeting with the security operatives sent here over the past two weeks.
“We shouldn’t provide oxygen to the people that want to see us divided. The response at this time should be to pull together and allow the government to see this through.
“I can give you the assurance that our children and their teachers, by the grace of God, will return safely.
“In an atmosphere of insecurity, virtually nothing can be achieved. Nothing. Schools, hospitals, economic activities will all be grounded.
“We know this and because we are not dealing with normal human beings, it is going to be a tortuous journey. All I will say is that from the presidency to the state, we will continue to put in our efforts.
“But in the meantime, please, and please, and please, it is time to unite, to confront the challenges that we have, and to bring back those children and our teachers,” the governor added.
Earlier in their separate solidarity remarks, NANS National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde; Oyo NLC Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins and Oyo NUT Chairman, Comrade Hassan Fatai, commended the efforts of the governor.
This was as they equally charged him to intensify efforts and ensure the quick release of the abductees.
They condemned the barbaric act of kidnapping and killing of innocent people, describing the perpetrators as enemies of the nation.
They pledged their support to the governor, and called on the government to strengthen the security architecture of the state, especially in schools, to make the environment safe and more conducive for learning.
