Oyo abduction: We should prioritize rescue over media optics — Wike

By Precious Mark

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged politcal actors to prioritize the rescue of the kidnapped Oyo school children over media politics.

The FCT Minister made this known while responding to questions during a live media chat today.

Speaking, Wike knocked Peter Obi, over his comments regarding President Bola Tinubu’s response to the kidnapping of school pupils at Orire in Oyo State.

He accused the NDC Presidential candidate of exploiting a national tragedy to play petty politics, arguing that the former Anambra State governor completely lacks an understanding of standard administrative protocols.

Recall that Obi had criticized President Tinubu after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, alleged that the President had not reached out to him following the mass abduction of the school children.

Wike countered that standard protocol requires a governor, as the chief security officer of his domain, to call and brief the President first during high-profile emergencies.

According to the Minister, the primary focus of leadership must remain the immediate tactical rescue of the children rather than media optics over who initiated a phone call.

“I won’t value any statement made by Peter Obi.”

“He’s not a consistent man, everything for him is politics. I’m not in a position to confirm if the President didn’t call Seyi Makinde, but did Seyi call the head of the government to say this is what happened in his state? What’s the problem? The mere fact the President didn’t call? He should have called first, that’s how it’s done. If something happened in your state, put a call to the President,” Wike said.

Wike maintained that if a security breach of such magnitude occurred within the Federal Capital Territory, he would immediately contact the presidency himself.

He urged opposition figures to offer concrete development alternatives to Nigerians instead of looking for minor administrative lapses to manipulate for future electoral relevance.