Adeoye Knocks APC, Defends Makinde Against ‘False’ Incitement Claims

…Claims ruling party using propaganda to distract from governance failures

…Insists governor’s comments were cautionary, not a call to violence

A leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Laja Adeoye, has defended comments made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, saying they have been misinterpreted and taken out of context.

This was in a statement issued and signed by Adeoye on Monday, he said references by Makinde to “Operation Wetie” were not a call to violence but a cautionary remark aimed at drawing attention to Nigeria’s political history and the dangers of suppressing opposition voices.

Adeoye accused critics of deliberately distorting the governor’s statement for political gain, insisting that Makinde’s comments were made in good faith as a warning against what he described as poor governance and growing political intolerance.

He further alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was pursuing policies capable of undermining Nigeria’s democratic structure.

According to him, attempts to portray Makinde’s remarks as incitement were misleading and intended to distract from substantive governance issues.

The PDP chieftain maintained that Makinde has consistently demonstrated a commitment to democratic principles and would not advocate violence under any circumstance.

He added that the governor’s statement should be viewed as constructive criticism rather than provocation.

Adeoye also called on political actors to engage in issue-based discourse and avoid inflammatory rhetoric that could heighten tensions in the polity.

The remarks come amid ongoing exchanges between members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition figures over the interpretation of Makinde’s comments, with both sides offering differing views on their implications for Nigeria’s democracy.