Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that Oyo State “is not Chibok and will never be Chibok”, vowing that the pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area will be rescued safely, as social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), led a protest over rising insecurity and kidnappings in the state.
The protest, which followed a series of kidnapping incidents across Oyo State, saw demonstrators demand urgent action from the government to secure the release of the victims and improve security across the state.
Addressing the protesters at his Ikolaba private residence, Ibadan, on Tuesday, Makinde struck an emotional tone, insisting that his administration would do everything possible to ensure that the abducted children did not suffer the fate of the Chibok schoolgirls.
“Let me make it very, very clear: Oyo State is not Chibok and we will not be Chibok. We have lost men, even soldiers and officers, and I can confirm to you that a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army was killed a few days ago.
“If you ask me, can I sacrifice myself for those children to come out? I will do it. I have lived a good life, I’m almost 60 and it doesn’t matter. Our children will never be in the same situation as Chibok children,“ the governor said.
Makinde acknowledged the dangers surrounding the rescue operation and the loss already recorded, stressing that every effort was being made to avoid further casualties.
“We’ve lost a teacher already. If we can avoid losing more, we will avoid losing more, but if we get to the point that certain people have to be sacrificed, including myself, we will do it,” he said.
The governor also expressed understanding for the protest, stating that he would likely have joined such a demonstration if he were not in government.
“I will tell the truth and nothing but the truth. If I am not in government, I will be you; I’ll be protesting with you.“
“I do not have anything against what you are doing. To have a society where leaders are accountable and inclusive sometimes requires agitation, sometimes it requires protest, and sometimes it requires people getting up from their comfort zones to do something like this,“ he said.
