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"Wild Wild West": APC Accuses Makinde of Inciting Violence as Governor's 'Wetie' Remark Sparks Political Firestorm
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has triggered a political firestorm after invoking the bloody history of "Operation Wetie" during a summit of opposition leaders in Ibadan on Saturday, April 25, 2026 — drawing a fierce rebuke from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a robust defence from his own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The controversy has exposed the raw nerves underlying Nigeria's political discourse as the country inches toward the 2027 general elections, with both sides trading accusations of incitement, historical revisionism, and political hypocrisy.
Speaking at the national summit of opposition political party leaders at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Makinde warned against what he described as a "dangerous consolidation of legislative power under one party." Then, in a loaded historical reference that has since dominated national headlines, the governor declared: "For those that are carrying on as if there's no tomorrow. They should remember that 'Operation Wetie' started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West."
The History: What Was Operation Wetie?
"Operation Wetie" was not a slogan for political theatre. The term, drawn from a Yoruba expression meaning "wet him," describes one of the darkest chapters in Nigeria's political history — a campaign of intense political violence that engulfed the old Western Region, with its epicentre in Ibadan, in the mid-1960s. The practice involved dousing political opponents, their homes, and their vehicles with petrol before setting them ablaze.
The crisis erupted after the highly disputed 1965 Western Region elections, which were widely alleged to have been rigged in favour of the ruling faction, effectively sidelining the opposition. It was an episode widely regarded as a precursor to the collapse of the First Republic and the military coup of January 1966. Veteran journalist and former President of the Nigeria and African Union of Journalists, Lanre Ogundipe, described the invocation of Operation Wetie as "both historically inaccurate and politically irresponsible," warning that "historical tragedies should not be converted into campaign rhetoric or applause lines."
APC's Response: "Unworthy of Office"
The APC responded swiftly and forcefully. In a statement issued on Sunday, April 26, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described Makinde's remarks as "reckless" and a "clear and present threat to peace and national security."
"By his incitement to violence, Makinde has shown himself to be unworthy of the high office of Governor that he occupies," Morka declared, calling on security and intelligence agencies to act to safeguard lives, property, and the democratic order. He added that constitutional immunity from prosecution was not immunity from accountability for threats or acts against national security.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru reinforced the party's position, describing the governor's comment as "irresponsible" and lacking proper context. "It is irresponsible for a governor to make inciting statements without context," Basiru stated, noting that the historical crisis Makinde referenced was rooted in electoral malpractice — conditions that, in the APC's view, do not reflect the current political reality.
The APC's South-West National Vice Chairman, Isaacs Kekemeke, went further, suggesting the remark could be interpreted as a "veiled threat of violence ahead of the 2027 elections." He dismissed claims that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state, arguing that with over 20 registered political parties, the country's political space remains "open and competitive."
PDP Defends Makinde: "A Historical Caution, Not a Call to Violence"
The PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki has mounted a vigorous defence of Makinde, insisting that his reference to Operation Wetie was a "historical caution" rather than a threat. National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, appearing on Channels Television's The Morning Brief, argued that the governor's statement had been widely misinterpreted. "Everyone should commend Governor Seyi Makinde for reminding us of the circumstances and the consequences. What is the essence of history if it does not teach? Those who neglect history are doomed by it," he said.
In a formal statement, the PDP accused the APC and the Federal Government of deliberately misinterpreting the speech, describing their reaction as "the panic of an animal cornered by its own misdeeds." The party argued that "only a guilty aggressor can interpret it to mean a threat or call to violence" and warned that "the events that led to the sad incident of 'Wetie' and the current happenings within the political space, as orchestrated by the APC, are not just similar but identical in both intent and execution."
In a particularly sharp counterattack, the PDP recalled that when the APC was in opposition, "they did not merely threaten violence, they openly promised to make the country ungovernable, with the infamous baboon and blood narrative. They therefore lack any moral capacity to complain about a mere historical recollection by a sitting governor."
A Divided PDP and a Nation on Edge
The controversy has also exposed fissures within the PDP itself. The Wike-backed faction has distanced itself from Makinde's remarks, urging "peaceful political engagement" and condemning violent rhetoric. Meanwhile, the South-West chapter of the PDP expressed reservations about the Ibadan summit altogether, calling for "clarity on Makinde's position" and reiterating the importance of "unity, transparency, and adherence to democratic principles."
The Ibadan summit, which brought together key opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, was intended to forge a united front ahead of the 2027 elections. Instead, the fallout from Makinde's remarks has underscored the volatility of Nigeria's political season and the razor-thin line between historical warning and incitement. As Ogundipe concluded in his cautionary statement: "Political leaders must understand that words matter. The lesson of Operation Wetie should remain simple: never again."
Conclusion: Words That Cannot Be Unsold
The "Operation Wetie" controversy is about more than a single phrase uttered at a political summit. It is about the responsibility of public officials, the weaponisation of historical memory, and the combustible intersection of rhetoric and reality in a nation approaching a fiercely contested election. Makinde's defenders argue that history must serve as a teacher; his critics insist that invoking history's darkest chapters is a reckless provocation. Both positions carry weight. What is beyond dispute is that in Nigeria's charged political climate, words cannot be unsold — and the consequences of careless speech can outpace the intentions of those who utter them.
Stay tuned to Unuevbo TV for more in-depth reporting on Nigeria's political landscape and 2027 election developments.
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