Some politicians are the ones who make other politicians look dishonourable by comparison. These are the sleazeballs and political scavengers who have polluted Nigeria’s public space with conduct so dishonourable that it lowers the standards of an already troubled political culture.
It came as an astonishing revelation that Ayo Fayose could descend even lower than the depths to which he had already sunk. We have watched him wallow in filth and controversy. We have seen him spew bile and bitterness. We have watched him crawl before the altars of political convenience, genuflecting whenever self-interest demanded it. His penchant for perfidy, opportunism and reckless grandstanding has long been established.
Yet, even by those standards, his latest outburst is shocking.
At a time when the nation remains gripped by anxiety over the abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State, when families are praying and communities are united in fear and hope, Fayose chose to politicise a painful security tragedy. Rather than demonstrate empathy, responsibility or restraint, he reportedly suggested that he would not put it past Governor Seyi Makinde to be behind the kidnapping.
Such a statement is not merely irresponsible; it is disgraceful.
We have always known that Fayose’s judgment becomes clouded whenever political expediency beckons. But few imagined he would sink to a level where the suffering of innocent children could become ammunition in a partisan battle.
How does any responsible public figure turn a tragedy involving kidnapped children and traumatised teachers into a political talking point? How does a former governor, entrusted in the past with the welfare and security of citizens, casually weaponise human suffering for political gain?
It takes a peculiar kind of cynicism to do so.
Fayose’s comments are not only inflammatory; they are dangerous. They contribute nothing to the search for answers, the rescue of victims, or the restoration of public confidence. Instead, they inject poison into an already tense situation.
If Governor Makinde, as Fayose insinuates, somehow orchestrated the abduction in Oyo State, then who orchestrated similar kidnappings in Ekiti State during Fayose’s political dominance? Who is responsible for the recurring tragedies in Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna and countless other parts of Nigeria? Should Nigerians also conclude that political leaders are masterminding every security breach within their jurisdictions?
The absurdity of such reasoning exposes the recklessness of Fayose’s claim. He clearly made that statememt to heat up the polity and please his master, Tinubu – like a vulture circling a carcass before taking the spoil.
Nigeria today faces one of the gravest security crises in its history. Kidnappings, terrorism, banditry and violent crime have spread across regions and communities. No part of the country is entirely insulated. Families live in fear. Businesses operate under uncertainty. Citizens increasingly question whether the state can adequately protect them.
This is not the time for divisive rhetoric. It is not the time for cheap political point-scoring. It is certainly not the time for sensational allegations designed to inflame passions and deepen distrust.
The nation is bleeding.
What Nigerians need are solutions, not political circus acts.
If Fayose possesses any evidence to support such a serious accusation, he should immediately make it available to security agencies. If he does not, then he owes the public an explanation for such a reckless statement.
Public office imposes obligations. Former governors are expected to contribute wisdom, stability and perspective to national discourse. They are not expected to behave like professional provocateurs whose every intervention generates more heat than light.
The tragedy unfolding in Oyo State demands unity, compassion and urgent action. The priority should be the safe return of every victim and justice for those responsible. Every available resource should be directed towards that objective.
President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, bears the ultimate responsibility for national security. The Federal Government and the Oyo State Government must work together, without political distractions; without the intervention of political scavengers like Ayo Fayose, to ensure the victims are rescued and those behind the crime are brought to justice.
That is what matters.
Not reckless speculation.
Not partisan mudslinging.
Not the opportunistic theatrics of politicians seeking relevance through controversy.
History will judge public figures not by how loudly they shouted during moments of national pain, but by whether they helped heal wounds or deepen them.
On that score, Ayo Fayose’s latest intervention has raised serious questions about the judgment, sensitivity and responsibility expected of a former governor.
Nigeria deserves better. The victims deserve better. And at a moment like this, humanity should matter more than politics.
Dare Adeleke writes from Ibadan, Oyo State
